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GENEVA, Feb 7 (AFP): Some 1.2 million seafarers could gain better working conditions, especially in ships sailing under flags of convenience, under new rules that are likely to be adopted this month, the International Labour Organisation said Tuesday.
The proposed new Maritime Labour Convention, which has already gained "unswerving" support from shipowners, labour unions and more than 80 states, is due for a final reading at a two-week ILO conference beginning Tuesday.
Countries worldwide would have powers to inspect ships that dock in their ports and seize them if labour conditions aboard are substandard, even if the vessel is flying the flag of a state that has not ratified the new rules, the ILO said.
Some states that have traditionally been regarded as flags of convenience-including Liberia and Panama-are ready to adopt the convention, according to the organisation.
The "bill of rights" is aimed at toughening enforcement of fragmented and sometimes outdated rules, which allow some owners to treat crew poorly by registering vessels in countries with slacker labour standards or checks, officials said.
"The real challenge is to make sure that these provisions will be applied and enforced worldwide, just like the international provisions designed to secure safety at sea and combat marine pollution," ILO Director General Juan Somavia said.
The proposals would knit together minimum recruitment, working and contractual conditions, accommodation and food standards for seafarers, as well as provisions for basic health care and welfare protection.
Some of the existing rules have been unchanged for 80 years.
They would be backed by provisions for certification and regular checks carried out by a combination of flag or registration states, ship owners and ports, instead of just by the flag state.
Ship crews would also gain a new procedure to lodge complaints about their conditions, while countries taking part would be obliged to report on implementation of the rules.
"Knowledge of the Convention will become essential for anyone seeking to own, operate or regulate ships or to work at sea," said Cleopatra Doumbia- Henry, director of the ILO's labour standards department.
Doumbia-Henry said participants were attracted by the prospect of a "level playing field" across the shipping industry.
"It has sometimes been called 'a seafarers' bill of rights' but everybody involved in shipping has a part to play in making this Convention come to life," she added.
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