'MLC Amendment: Abducted seafarers to be fully paid during captivity' 30 Apr 2018

On the sidelines of its third meeting last week, the Special Tripartite Committee of the ILO (International Labour Organization) has agreed on a new amendment to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, to address a potential contractual gap for the seafarers who fall victim and are held captive on or off a ship, as a result of piracy or armed robbery. The amendment will now be submitted to the next session of the International Labour Conference for adoption. When it enters into force, it foresees that the seafarers’ wages and other contractual entitlements will continue to be paid during the entire period of captivity. This will provide the families with the necessary means of survival to partially alleviate the unbelievable psychological distress they undergo whilst their loved ones are held hostages.The adoption of the amendment was not the only positive outcome of the week-long meeting in Geneva. The Seafarers Group and the Ship Owners Group have...submitted three resolutions to draw the attention and to call for action by the Governments on vital issues.