ABSTRACT
On 23 February 2006, the MLC1 was adopted at the UN Palace in Geneva in
the framework of an International Conference of the ILO. Delegates from
106 countries and numerous representatives from the shipowners’ and seafarers’
parties cast their votes. There were 314 votes in favour of the Convention,
none against and 2 abstentions. This constituted a huge step forward in the
protection of seafarers’ rights on a formal level. The MLC is meant to become
the fourth pillar among the most important international maritime conventions
such as MARPOL,2 SOLAS3 and STCW,4 all of them important maritime instru-
ments which had been adopted under the auspices of the IMO. The Convention
will come into force twelve months after the date on which there have been regis-
tered ratifi cations by at least 30 Members with a total share in the world gross
tonnage of ships of 33 per cent. It is estimated that this goal will be reached
by 2010.
