Maritime Policy

RMT response to the MCA consultation on implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) amendments 2022

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 is the fourth pillar of international maritime law, covering seafarer welfare and some aspects of employment for the world’s seafarer workforce of 1.9 million Ratings and Officers, including RMT members who are part of the UK’s 11,000 strong Ratings workforce.

The MLC has been in force internationally and in the UK for over a decade. It was primarily designed to raise standards for merchant seafarers employed on bulk carriers, cargo ships, container ships, cruise lines and other deep sea trades, where UK Ratings have been replaced with cheaper crews on flag of convenience ships since the 1980s.

The MLC is regularly reviewed and amended at ILO level. Governments, employers and seafarer unions agreed the latest changes in May 2022, with a deadline for implementation at national level of December 2024. The amendments covered a number of areas, including improvements to seafarers ‘social connectivity’ onboard ship, access to onshore medical treatment, improved dietary standards and better protections from unscrupulous employment agencies, including for the 8,000 UK seafarers estimated to be registered with crewing agents. In most areas, apart from the improvement of internet access, RMT collective bargaining agreements are above MLC standards. The Department for Transport is consulting on how the changes agreed in 2022 are implemented in UK law and your union’s response is here

FINAL Lessons from P&O Seminar RMT Briefing

RMT Policy Briefing - West Coast Ferry Services Scottish Parliament Debate

RFA Briefing 17.01.24

RMT Brief Seafarers Wages Bill Report 07.02.23

Merchant Navy Training Board - Strategic Plan

RMT is a member of the industry led Merchant Navy Training Board, along with Nautilus and Government.

Employers on the MNTB routinely shut down policy initiatives which would increase the number of Ratings being trained here and employed in the industry. P&O has changed that, along with the crew shortage resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Russia and Ukraine supply 14% of the world’s 1.9m seafarers) and the impact of the pandemic on seafarer welfare.

The attached paper was submitted to the MNTB to demand a specific Ratings element to the MNTB’s new seafarer training strategy. The MNTB will finalise the strategy in April.

Tonnage Tax policy briefing