The Special Tripartite Committee (STC) of the Maritime Labour Convention consists of two representatives nominated by the government of each country that has ratified the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), as well as representatives of shipowners and seafarers. Its mandate includes considering amendments to the MLC, 2006, and keep the application of the Convention under continuous review.
As one of the most globalized industries, from the ILO’s earliest years, the maritime sector was very quickly the subject of several international instruments, sometimes laying down very detailed rules. However, its scattered nature complicated the ratification of conventions by Member States as well as efforts to apply and update existing instruments. It was therefore decided to codify the majority of these instruments into a single Maritime Labour Convention, which entered into force in 2013. The aim of the MLC, 2006, is to ensure comprehensive worldwide protection of the rights of seafarers and to establish a level playing field for countries and shipowners committed to providing decent working and living conditions for seafarers and protecting them from unfair competition by substandard ships.
The MLC, 2006, includes the international procedure for establishing a minimum monthly basic wage for seafarers, which is set periodically by the ILO JMC.
Should difficulties arise in the working of the MLC, 2006, or if the Convention needs to be updated, the STC has the power to propose amendments for adoption by the International Labour Conference. The STC also plays an important consultative role for countries that do not have shipowners’ or seafarers’ organizations when implementing the MLC, 2006. In view of this role, the STC regularly produces resolutions and recommendations.