Directive (EU) 2018/131 implementing the Agreement to amend Directive 2009/13/EC in accordance with the amendments of 2014 to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006

Further information:

The European Commission put forward on 27 July 2017 a proposal for a Directive which transposes an agreement between the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) regarding the incorporation into EU law of amendments agreed in 2014 to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.

The Council of the European Union approved the proposed Directive on 7 December 2017.

Background:

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) adopted the Maritime Labour Convention in 2006, aiming to create a single, coherent instrument embodying all up-to-date standards applying to international maritime labour. It provides a set of rights and protection measures at work for all seafarers regardless of their nationality or the flag of the ship.

Following the emergence of vulnerabilities in the Convention, a series of amendments was adopted in 2014 to tackle them. An agreement on amending Council Directive 2009/13/EC (which implements the Maritime Labour Convention) was reached between social partners in December 2016. The subsequent proposal from the European Commission aims to ensure that seafarers are better protected against abandonment in foreign ports in the future, and is expected to strengthen their rights to compensation in the event of death or long-term disability due to an occupational injury, illness or hazard.

• Primary Source

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 07.12.17: Better working conditions for seafarers: Council approves agreement between social partners http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/12/07/better-working-conditions-for-seafarers-council-approves-agreement-between-social-partners/

European Commission: DG Communication: IP/17/2141, 27.07.17: Seafarers: New measures to improve working conditions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-2141_en.htm

EUR-Lex: COM(2017)406: Proposal for a Council Directive implementing the Agreement concluded by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) to amend Council Directive 2009/13/EC in accordance with the amendments of 2014 to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2017:406:FIN

Maritime Logistics Professional, 27.07.17: EC Measures to Improve Conditions for Seafarers https://www.maritimeprofessional.com/news/measures-improve-conditions-seafarers-307714

Ship Technology, 11.12.17: European Council to implement ECSA-ETF agreement on seafarers https://www.ship-technology.com/news/european-council-implement-ecsa-etf-agreement-seafarers/

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