MLC LAW CHANGE
TO PROTECT PAY FOR
SEAFARERS CAPTURED BY PIRATES
FINLANDS SJÖFART J SUOMEN MERENKULKU 51
N autilus has welcomed the introduction of
new international employment rights for
seafarers captured by pirates, which
came into force on 26 December 2020.
The new rights are set out in the 2018 amend-ments
to the ILO Maritime Labour Convention
(MLC). They ensure that a Seafarer Employment
Agreement (SEA) will stay in place while a
seafarer is held captive by pirates on or off the
ship – even if the seafarer’s contract expires or is
terminated by the shipowner.
This means that seafarers will continue to be
paid their full wages while in captivity and
receive any other entitlements due from the
shipowner under the terms of their SEA, collec-tive
bargaining agreement or national law of the
fl ag state. These entitlements could include
holiday pay and pension contributions.
As a country which has ratifi ed the MLC, the
UK is committed to adopting the 2018 amend-ments
into national law, and Nautilus took part
earlier this year in a government consultation on
how best to do this.
Nautilus legal director Charles Boyle com-mented:
‘This is a very welcome addition to the
MLC, as it will ensure that captured seafarers’
families will be fi nancially supported throughout
the period of captivity, at a time when they will
be suffering much stress and worry. It is also a
very timely amendment, as there has been a
resurgence of piracy incidents reported in the
press recently.
‘The UK has faithfully implemented the
amendments, to take effect from 26 December,
and all other MLC states are required to have the
changesinplacebythatdateatthelatest.’
•
G A pirate ‘mother
ship’ off Somalia.
IMAGE: PIXABAY