MLC 2006 — the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 — is the comprehensive international convention establishing minimum working and living conditions for seafarers worldwide, often described as the seafarers’ equivalent of a “bill of rights.”
What MLC 2006 Covers
- Minimum age and medical fitness — requirements for who can be employed as a seafarer
- Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA) — mandatory written contract terms
- Hours of work and rest — maximum 14 hours work / minimum 10 hours rest in any 24-hour period (with additional 7-day limits)
- Wages — regular payment, no unreasonable deductions
- Accommodation and recreational facilities
- Food and catering standards
- Health protection and medical care
- Welfare and social security protection
- Repatriation rights
- Complaint procedures — both onboard and through flag state
Why It’s Significant
Before MLC 2006, seafarer labor standards were scattered across many separate, older ILO conventions with inconsistent ratification. MLC 2006 consolidated these into one comprehensive convention with a strong enforcement mechanism through Port State Control inspection — an MLC-non-compliant vessel can be detained.
India and MLC 2006
India ratified MLC 2006 in 2015, making its provisions binding for Indian-flagged vessels and directly relevant to Indian seafarers working internationally.
Enforcement
MLC compliance is verified through flag state certification (a Maritime Labour Certificate) and can be checked by Port State Control at any port — a real, practical enforcement mechanism, not just a paper standard.
Exam Relevance
MLC 2006’s core provisions — working hours, SEA requirements, and complaint procedures — are core Ship Knowledge topics tested across deck and engine officer competency exams.