Letter

TO RATIFYING MEMBER STATES OF THE ILO 23 June 2025

Notification of the amendments of 2025 to the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I have the honour of bringing to the attention of your Government the amendments of 2025 to the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006), which were approved on 6 June 2025 by the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference, in accordance with article XV, paragraph 5 of the Convention. Copy of the text of the amendments may be found at the following address: Amendments to the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006) | International Labour Organization.

The first amendment relates to Regulation 2.5 (Repatriation) and is intended to ensure that Member States facilitate the repatriation of seafarers in a manner that excludes discrimination on any grounds.

The second set of amendments relates to Regulation 2.4 (Entitlement to leave) and is intended to ensure that seafarers can effectively enjoy the right to shore leave while they are in port to benefit their health and well-being. Shore leave shall be allowed without discrimination and without requiring seafarers to hold a visa or special permit.

The third amendment relates to Regulation 2.5 (Repatriation) and provides that Member States should designate and recognize seafarers as key workers and take appropriate measures to facilitate their safe movement when travelling in connection with their employment or work, including, but not limited to, access to shore leave, repatriation, crew changes and medical care ashore.

The fourth set of amendments relates to Regulations 4.4 (Access to shore-based welfare facilities) and 5.1 (Flag State responsibilities) and requests Members States to take due account of relevant IMO/ILO guidelines to ensure the fair treatment of seafarers detained in foreign ports in connection with alleged crimes or in the context of inquiries into marine casualties. It further requires Members to cooperate with concerned States to that effect.

The fifth set of amendments relates to Regulation 2.5 (Repatriation) and is intended to ensure that the costs to be borne by the shipowner for repatriation include at least certain specific items which were previously contained in a non-mandatory provision. These refer to passage to the destination of repatriation, accommodation and food, transportation of up to 30 kilograms of luggage and medical treatment when necessary.

2. The sixth set of amendments relates to Regulation 4.1 (Medical care on board ship and ashore) and is intended to ensure that the training for seafarers in charge of medical care on board when ships are not required to carry a medical doctor takes into account, among others, the International Medical Guide for Seafarers and Fishers.

The seventh set of amendments relates to Regulations 1.4 (Recruitment and placement), 3.1 (Accommodation and recreational facilities), 4.3 (Health and safety protection and accident prevention) and 5.1 (Flag state responsibilities) and is intended to ensure effective protection of seafarers against violence and harassment on board, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault. In particular, the amendments require Member States to adopt laws and regulations and other measures for the prevention and elimination of violence and harassment with due regard to the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). Member States shall further require relevant measures for shipowners and seafarers to ensure the establishment of safe, fair and effective reporting mechanisms and procedures for cases of shipboard violence and harassment.

These amendments had been adopted on 11 April 2025 by the Special Tripartite Committee established under article XIII of the Convention.

In keeping with article XV, paragraph 6, following approval of the amendments by the Conference, Members whose ratifications of the MLC, 2006 were registered before 6 June 2025 are being notified thereof. In line with article XV, paragraph 7, the amendments will be deemed to have been accepted unless more than 40 per cent of the Members which have ratified the Convention and which represent no less than 40 per cent of the gross tonnage of the ships of the Members which have ratified the Convention have communicated to the Director-General their formal expressions of disagreement with the amendments within two years of the date of this letter of notification that is, by 23 June 2027.

As stated in article XV, paragraph 8, amendments deemed to have been accepted in accordance with paragraph 7 will come into force on 23 December 2027, that is six months after the end of the two-year period, for all ratifying Members, except those which have formally expressed their disagreement under paragraph 7, and have not withdrawn such disagreement in accordance with paragraph 11, as well as those which have given notice in accordance with paragraph 8(a) or (b) of the same article.

After the entry into force of an amendment adopted under article XV, the Convention may only be ratified in its amended form.

Yours sincerely,

Gilbert F. Houngbo Director-General

TO RATIFYING MEMBER STATES OF THE ILO 23 June 2025

Notification of the amendments of 2025 to the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I have the honour of bringing to the attention of your Government the amendments of 2025 to the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006), which were approved on 6 June 2025 by the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference, in accordance with article XV, paragraph 5 of the Convention. Copy of the text of the amendments may be found at the following address: Amendments to the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006) | International Labour Organization.

The first amendment relates to Regulation 2.5 (Repatriation) and is intended to ensure that Member States facilitate the repatriation of seafarers in a manner that excludes discrimination on any grounds.

The second set of amendments relates to Regulation 2.4 (Entitlement to leave) and is intended to ensure that seafarers can effectively enjoy the right to shore leave while they are in port to benefit their health and well-being. Shore leave shall be allowed without discrimination and without requiring seafarers to hold a visa or special permit.

The third amendment relates to Regulation 2.5 (Repatriation) and provides that Member States should designate and recognize seafarers as key workers and take appropriate measures to facilitate their safe movement when travelling in connection with their employment or work, including, but not limited to, access to shore leave, repatriation, crew changes and medical care ashore.

The fourth set of amendments relates to Regulations 4.4 (Access to shore-based welfare facilities) and 5.1 (Flag State responsibilities) and requests Members States to take due account of relevant IMO/ILO guidelines to ensure the fair treatment of seafarers detained in foreign ports in connection with alleged crimes or in the context of inquiries into marine casualties. It further requires Members to cooperate with concerned States to that effect.

The fifth set of amendments relates to Regulation 2.5 (Repatriation) and is intended to ensure that the costs to be borne by the shipowner for repatriation include at least certain specific items which were previously contained in a non-mandatory provision. These refer to passage to the destination of repatriation, accommodation and food, transportation of up to 30 kilograms of luggage and medical treatment when necessary.

2. The sixth set of amendments relates to Regulation 4.1 (Medical care on board ship and ashore) and is intended to ensure that the training for seafarers in charge of medical care on board when ships are not required to carry a medical doctor takes into account, among others, the International Medical Guide for Seafarers and Fishers.

The seventh set of amendments relates to Regulations 1.4 (Recruitment and placement), 3.1 (Accommodation and recreational facilities), 4.3 (Health and safety protection and accident prevention) and 5.1 (Flag state responsibilities) and is intended to ensure effective protection of seafarers against violence and harassment on board, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault. In particular, the amendments require Member States to adopt laws and regulations and other measures for the prevention and elimination of violence and harassment with due regard to the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). Member States shall further require relevant measures for shipowners and seafarers to ensure the establishment of safe, fair and effective reporting mechanisms and procedures for cases of shipboard violence and harassment.

These amendments had been adopted on 11 April 2025 by the Special Tripartite Committee established under article XIII of the Convention.

In keeping with article XV, paragraph 6, following approval of the amendments by the Conference, Members whose ratifications of the MLC, 2006 were registered before 6 June 2025 are being notified thereof. In line with article XV, paragraph 7, the amendments will be deemed to have been accepted unless more than 40 per cent of the Members which have ratified the Convention and which represent no less than 40 per cent of the gross tonnage of the ships of the Members which have ratified the Convention have communicated to the Director-General their formal expressions of disagreement with the amendments within two years of the date of this letter of notification that is, by 23 June 2027.

As stated in article XV, paragraph 8, amendments deemed to have been accepted in accordance with paragraph 7 will come into force on 23 December 2027, that is six months after the end of the two-year period, for all ratifying Members, except those which have formally expressed their disagreement under paragraph 7, and have not withdrawn such disagreement in accordance with paragraph 11, as well as those which have given notice in accordance with paragraph 8(a) or (b) of the same article.

After the entry into force of an amendment adopted under article XV, the Convention may only be ratified in its amended form.

Yours sincerely,

Gilbert F. Houngbo Director-General