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Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention. Certificate of qualification of ships’ cooks. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the conditions for obtaining a certificate of qualification as a ship’s cook are regulated in Order of the Inspectorate for Seafarers’ Training and Qualifications, No. 109 of 5 November 2007. According to the Government’s report, candidates for the position of a ship’s cook must: (i) be at least 18 years of age; (ii) pass the necessary specialized training; (iii) be medically fit for work on ships; (iv) have the necessary sea service; and (v) demonstrate their proficiency before the state qualification commission. The Government adds that in order to be considered by the state qualification commission, candidates must submit, among others, a seaman’s book confirming work experience on ships, as provided for in the Order of the Chief Inspectorate No. 185 of 30 October 2009 on the procedure for examining proficiency in the state qualification commission. Furthermore, in accordance with Order of the Ministry of Transport and Communications No. 863 of 10 December 2001, candidates have to undergo a competency assessment in matters such as preparation of various types of dishes, meals for multinational crews, quality of products and storage, baking and safety in the galley. The Committee requests copies of Orders Nos 109 of 2007, 185 of 2009 and 863 of 2001. It also requests the Government to forward copies of Orders Nos 686 of 2004 and 83 of 2001, referred to in the Government’s report.

Article 4(2)(b). Minimum period of service at sea. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the minimum period of professional experience for cooks of grade 4 is 12 months and for cooks of grade 5 or 6 is 18 months. The Committee understands, however, that only in the case of cooks of grade 5 or 6 a minimum length of service on seagoing vessels is required, whereas no minimum period of service at sea seems to be prescribed for ships’ cooks of a lower grade. The Committee therefore requests the Government to specify how it is given effect to this provision of the Convention in respect of ships’ cooks of grades lower than 5 or 6.

The Committee takes this opportunity to recall that Convention No. 69 has been revised by the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), and that its main provisions are now incorporated in Regulation 3.2(3), Standard A3.2(3) and (4), and Guideline B3.2.2 of the latter instrument. In this connection, the Committee notes with interest the Government’s indication that the minimum age for ships’ cooks is set at 18 years of age which is in conformity with Standard A3.2(8) of the MLC, 2006. The Committee therefore invites the Government to consider the possibility of ratifying the MLC, 2006, in the very near future and to keep the Office informed of any decisions taken in this respect.