Ratification of ILO Conventions: the MLC, 2006 and SID 2003

A message from Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University

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I am pleased to see that the following two maritime instruments have recently garnered new ratifications:

1. The Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention 2003, No. 185; and
2. The Work in Fishing Convention 2007, No.188.

The ILO maritime and fishing Conventions for which I was responsible during my time at the ILO have attracted new ratifications.

The ratification by Iraq and Mozambique of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 as amended (MLC) will bring to 100 the total number of ratifications of the MLC by member States of the ILO. This is a milestone for the ILO of which I am very proud. I am also pleased to note that the ratification of the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 2003, No. 185 (SID) as amended, has now been ratified by 38 countries. The MLC provides for decent working and living conditions for seafarers and the SID facilitates seafarers' right to shore leave, transit and transfer to their home countries.  

I wish to urge all countries that have not yet done so to ratify these two instruments - the MLC and the SID - in order to ensure decent working and living conditions of seafarers as well as enabling them to transit and transfer to either join ships or to disembark after their tour of duty. This is particularly important during COVID-19 times. With respect to the Work in Fishing Convention, No. 188, I also wish to call on all countries to move forward to ratify this Convention which protects fishers on whom we all depend for the fish we eat.

Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry
President
World Maritime University