No more excuses for denying seafarers their rights
Nautilus International, the Union for maritime professionals, has welcomed a ruling by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that found governments have breached seafarers’ rights and failed to comply with several provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The landmark ruling from the ILO, the first of its kind, sent a strong message to governments that they have failed in their duty of care towards seafarers under international law, including basic rights such as access to healthcare, repatriation, annual leave and shore leave.
Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson said: ‘The ILO Committee of Experts has sent a welcome and an unequivocal message to states that have ratified the MLC – there are no longer any excuses for denying seafarers their rights to repatriation, shore leave, and access to medical care ashore.