Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the absence of the specimen document requested as part of the 1998 report on the application of the Convention. It further notes with concern that, according to the Government's report, the seafarers' identity document is no longer issued to Barbadian nationals, and that "a seafarer entering Barbados would need to present a national passport and proof of engagement to join the vessel".

The Committee recalls the obligation of a State party under Article 2(1) of the Convention to issue a seafarer's identity document to each of its nationals who is a seafarer on application by him. Therefore, the competent authority must have and make available a specific document for seafarers containing the full particulars prescribed by the Convention and, regardless of the document's national denomination, it must contain the statement that it is issued for the purpose of the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108), of the International Labour Organization, as required under Article 4(2) of the Convention.

Furthermore, the Committee recalls that under Article 6(1) and (2) of the Convention the identity document issued pursuant to this Convention shall suffice for a seafarer wishing to take temporary shore leave in a State party to the Convention; it need not be accompanied by a passport. In addition, where the identity document has space for appropriate entries, it entitles the seafarer to enter the territory for transit passage to join a ship or for repatriation, subject to the provision under Article 6(3) of the Convention according to which the receiving State may require documentary proof concerning the seafarer's engagement.

The Committee recalls its comments on the application of this Convention in its last report (International Labour Conference, 87th Session, 1999, Report III (Part 1A), pages 21-23) and requests the Government to: (i) reinstate the identity document forthwith for seafarers who are Barbadian nationals, (ii) enact new regulations or amend existing ones so that foreign seafarers may enter Barbados with a valid identity document issued pursuant to this Convention; and (iii) provide the Committee with copies of the relevant legislative and/or regulatory texts ensuring the application of the Convention in law and in practice.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2001.]