Maritime Labour Convention Tri-partite Working Group

TO: THE SECRETARY
ALL BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS

Circular No: NP/026/22

TO ALL SHIPPING BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS

Our ref: S6/11

31st January 2022

Dear Colleagues

ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) – MCA Tri-partite Working Group

Further to Circular No.0243 of 7th November 2019, I write to update you on the work of the MCA-chaired Tri-partite Working Group on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Government, RMT, Nautilus and employers are represented on this Group.

RMT has continued to press the case for radical reform of the MLC in favour of stronger legally enforceable minimum international standards on seafarer employment and welfare, including the prohibition of nationality based-pay discrimination and improving pension rights. The Government has continued to reject these demands, despite the damage caused to the working conditions and lives of seafarers in the UK and across the world by the pandemic.

Meetings of this Group were held on 25th November 2019, 3rd July 2020, 8th December 2020, 6th April 2021, 1st October 2021 and 16th December 2021. Minutes from these meetings are available on request to the National Policy Department d.crimes@rmt.org.uk

I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all Shipping Branch members. You will be kept advised of further developments.

Yours sincerely

Mick Lynch
General Secretary