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Seafarers Rights - MLC2006

The MLC 2006 is an international law that set out by the International Labour Organisation highlighting minimum working and living standards for seafarers worldwide.

​ts purpose is to ensure fair treatment and decent conditions regardless of a seafarer’s nationality or employer.
It also provides systems for complaints, inspections, and enforcement through flag and port state control.
In practice, it helps prevent exploitation and ensures ships operate with properly treated, rested, and protected crews.

IMO
IMO

Your Rights as a seafarers

A few abbreviations are mentioned below. A quick explanation is helpful to new to industry individuals. 

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PSC- Port State Control

SOLAS - Safety of Life at Sea 

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It is always in your best interest to make sure your employment contract aligns with the MLC2006 code. 

Right to a Fair Employment Agreement

  • Written Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA)

  • Terms such as  wages, contract duration, leave, repatriation should be clear

  • This must be understood and signed voluntarily

Fair Wages

Requirement

  • Paid at least monthly

  • Full accounting transparency (allotments, deductions)

 

Operational reality

  • Payslips must show:

    • Base wage

    • Overtime

    • Leave pay

    • Deductions (if any)

 

PSC (Port State Control)/audit  focus

  • Evidence of regular payment

  • Crew complaints about delays

 

Important to note

  • Non-payment >2 months can trigger abandonment classification

Hours of Rest (Fatigue Control)

Requirement

  • Minimum:

    • 10 hours rest in any 24-hour period

    • 77 hours rest in any 7 days

  • Max 14 hours work in 24 hours

 

Operational reality

  • Split rest allowed (max 2 periods, one ≥6 hours)

  • Drills must not systematically violate rest

 

PSC focus

  • Cross-check:

    • Rest hour records

    • Logbooks

    • Work permits

  • They look for pattern inconsistencies

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Safe working conditions

Linked heavily with ISM Code and SOLAS

 

Requirement

  • Safe systems of work

  • PPE provision

  • Risk assessments before hazardous tasks

 

Operational reality

  • Toolbox talks must be meaningful, not rushed

  • Permit-to-work system (hot work, enclosed space, etc.)

 

PSC focus

  • Crew understanding of procedures

  • Not just paperwork—Can you explain the risk?

 

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Food and Accomodation

Requirement

  • Clean, safe, and decent living conditions

  • Adequate lighting, ventilation, heating

  • Food of proper quality and quantity

 

Operational reality

  • Separate mess rooms

  • Regular inspections by Master or designated officer

 

PSC focus

  • Galley hygiene

  • Food storage (temperature, contamination)

  • Crew complaints

Leave (Annual + shore leave)

Requirement

  • Paid annual leave accrual

  • Shore leave when operationally feasible- Make sure that it is detailed in your employment contract if shore leave is deductible from annual leave 

 

Operational reality

  • Leave is often paid as part of salary (consolidated wage systems)

 

PSC focus

  • Is leave calculation compliant?

Repatriation

Requirement

  • Shipowner pays for return home in cases of:

    • Contract completion

    • Illness/injury

    • Shipwreck

    • Employer insolvency

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  • Includes:

    • Travel

    • Accommodation

    • Food

 

PSC focus

  • Evidence of financial security system

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Medical Care 

Requirement

  • Access to:

    • Medical chest (properly stocked)

    • Trained personnel onboard

    • Shore-based treatment when needed

 

Operational reality

  • Use of telemedical services

  • Medical logbook must be maintained

 

PSC focus

  • Expiry dates of medicines

  • Crew awareness of procedures

 

Important to note 

  • No cost to seafarer for essential treatment

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Social Protection

Requirement

  • Compensation for:

    • Injury

    • Disability

    • Death

  • Access to social security (varies by flag state)

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  • Covered via:

    • P&I insurance

    • Company schemes

 

PSC focus

  • Proof of financial security certificates

Complaint Procedures

Requirement

  • Formal onboard complaint system

  • Escalation path:

    1. Immediate superior

    2. Master

    3. Company

    4. Flag state

 

Operational reality

  • Must allow confidential complaints

 

PSC focus

  • Crew awareness: ​

Does the crew know how to raise complaints ​

Protection against Abandonment 

Requirement

  • Financial security must cover:

    • Unpaid wages (up to 4 months typically)

    • Repatriation

    • Basic needs onboard

 

Operational reality

  • Certificates must be posted onboard

 

PSC focus

  • Valid abandonment insurance

Freedom from Harassment and Discrimination 

Requirement

  • No discrimination based on nationality, gender, etc.

  • Protection from bullying/harassment

 

Operational reality

  • Company policies + reporting channels

 

PSC focus

  • Increasingly important (especially in mixed crews)

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