Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 1996, publiée 85ème session CIT (1997)

Article 1(c) and (d) of the Convention. For over ten years the Committee has been referring in its comments to sections 223 and 243 of the Merchant Shipping Code, under which seafarers may be punished for breaches of labour discipline (absence without leave, refusal to obey after formal order) with sentences of imprisonment involving compulsory labour under section 40 of the Penal Code.

The Committee notes that in its report the Government reiterates its previous indications that the provisions in question are currently being revised in the overall framework of the revision of the Merchant Shipping Code.

The Committee hopes that sections 223 and 243 of the Merchant Shipping Code will be amended in the very near future to ensure that no sentence involving the obligation to work can be imposed for breaches of labour discipline and requests the Government to indicate the progress achieved in this respect.