Maritime Labour Convention
Learn about the Maritime Labour Convention and how it aims to improve and ensure the safety and wellbeing of the crew onboard foreign-flagged and New Zealand ships.
How to make a complaint
Overview
New Zealand is a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (the MLC). The MLC is an international treaty adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that sets minimum standards for the health, safety and welfare of seafarers in areas such as:
- conditions of employment (eg, payment of wages, hours of work and rest, minimum age, qualifications, employment agreements)
- accommodation (including food and catering)
- crewing levels
- onboard recreational facilities
- onboard medical care
- accident prevention
- onboard complaints procedures.
Under the MLC, New Zealand has the jurisdiction to:
- inspect foreign-flagged ships to check for compliance with the standards set by the MLC
- inspect and certify its own ships, which travel internationally, to demonstrate compliance with the MLC.
The MLC does not apply to fishing vessels as the New Zealand government has a range of measures in place regarding vessel safety and the fair treatment of crews on fishing vessels.*
* Legislation requires Foreign Charter Vessels fishing in our Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) to reflag to New Zealand and be subject to its laws including the Maritime Transport Act, the Health and Safety at Work Act, and the Seafarer Certification Framework (SeaCert).
For more information
Contact us
If you require any further information about the Maritime Labour Convention, contact:
Email:
enquiries@maritimenz.govt.nz