Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Article 5 of the Convention. Repatriation expenses. The Committee notes the indication of the Tripartite Consultation Committee that, in Iraq, the profession of seafarers is nearly non-existent. Since, however, a number of vessels are flying the flag of Iraq, the Committee recalls that this Convention applies to all persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board any seagoing vessel registered in the country of any Member ratifying this Convention, except for the vessels listed in Article 1, paragraph 2.

The Committee, therefore, requests the Government once again to report on the concrete measures taken to ensure that the repatriation expenses under Article 5, paragraph 1, are paid to all seafarers employed or engaged on board seagoing vessels registered in Iraq to which this Convention applies, irrespective of their nationality, and regardless as to whether they are awaiting repatriation in locations outside Iraq or in Iraq, or whether they are employed in the public or private sector. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to give effect to this provision of the Convention.

Furthermore, the Committee invites the Government to consider the possibility of ratifying the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, which is the up to date international instrument regarding, inter alia, repatriation, and would result in the automatic denunciation of the present Convention. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on consultations which have been held on this matter.