Preparatory Tripartite MLC, 2006, Committee

The Governing Body of the ILO, at its 306th Session, noting that the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) is expected to come into force during 2011, decided to establish a Preparatory Tripartite MLC, 2006, Committee (“the Preparatory Committee”), modelled on the future “Special Tripartite Committee” to be established under Article XIII of the MLC, 2006, when it comes into force. Since the MLC, 2006, is not yet in force, the Preparatory Committee comprises representatives of the governments of any interested member States and ten representatives nominated respectively by the International Shipping Federation (ISF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

The mandate of the Preparatory Committee is to “keep under review the preparations by Members for implementing the MLC, 2006, identify any common issues and prepare the work for the future Special Tripartite Committee on any questions that might need to be dealt with as a matter of urgency after entry into force of the Convention, including the rules of procedure of the Committee”.

The Governing Body, in establishing the Preparatory Committee, envisaged that, subject to budgetary considerations, the Committee would “meet at least once during 2010 and once during the 12-month period following deposit of the 30th ratification”.

The purpose of this meeting of the Preparatory Committee is to:

(a) exchange information regarding steps that Members have taken to implement the MLC, 2006 if they have ratified or are moving towards ratification;

(b) identify any common issues (particularly any difficulties regarding interpretation and application to particular sectors encountered during preparations for ratification and implementation of the MLC, 2006), and exchange views and provide advice on possible solutions, in order to assist Members in moving forward with the ratification and implementation process to bring the MLC, 2006 into force in 2011 or early 2012;

(c) identify matters that will require urgent action by the Special Tripartite Committee, once it has been established, and provide advice on any preparatory work or others steps to be taken to enable it to begin functioning, including consideration of possible standing orders for the Committee, taking into account its various roles under the MLC, 2006.