Improving seafarers’ rights on board of Maltese vessels through Malta’s ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

Abstract

Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 is a single international instrument that consolidates already existing ILO maritime labour Conventions and Recommendations with the purpose to provide decent working and living conditions for all seafarers. The Convention was incorporated into Maltese legislation under the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Rules. The main aims of this term paper are to examine the extent to which the conditions of employment of seafarers working on board of Malta’s flagged vessels have been improved with the ratification and entering into force of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 and to define the effectiveness of the Convention in practice. In order to achieve the aims of the term paper, the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Rules are analysed and the comparison is made between these Rules and the relevant provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act together with Maltese Subsidiary Legislation that have been revoked due to the entrance into force of these Rules, as the consequence of which, the novelties instituted by means of the newly implemented Convention are described. Moreover, the results of the questionnaires, conducted among seafarers working on Maltese vessels regarding the improvement of conditions of employment in practice, are scrutinized. In conclusion, this term paper highlights that although a number of novelties has been introduced, the Merchant Shipping Act together with revoked Subsidiary Legislation have already contained rather developed provisions regarding the conditions of employment, hence, have provided adequate protection for seafarers. With regards to the enhancement of conditions of employment in practice and according to the majority of the opinions of seafarers themselves, there is always room for improvements.