Job quality and working conditions for crew members

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.4 / Subcat-No.4.4-3

4. Internal market

4.4 Internal Market (intramodal): maritime

Job quality and working conditions for crew members

Maritime transport is probably the most globalized one but not the less regulated. The main regulation does not come from EU, it derives from the SOLAS Convention, generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety and the management of merchant ships. The first version was adopted in 1914 in response to the Titanic disaster, the second in 1929, the third in 1948, and the fourth in 1960. The 1974 version includes the tacit acceptance procedure which provides that an amendment shall enter into force on a specified date unless, before that date, objections to the amendment are received from an agreed number of Parties. As a result the 1974 Convention has been updated and amended on numerous occasions. The Convention in force today is sometimes referred to as SOLAS, 1974, as amended.
To improve working condition and professional attractiveness, EU engages in maintaining high standard of job training of crews to ensure high quality and safe shipping operation, and applying information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve crew’s living quality at sea [1]. These measures need EU contribute in revision of the STCW Convention, promoting the cooperation and exchange between training institutions of Member States.

1 Ratifying of the ILO 2006 Maritime Labour Convention [4]
2 Implementation of EU Community in various legislation (Directives) for the health and safety of persons employed on board ships [3]

• Implementation of the ILO 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) to improve working and living conditions on board ships and its rapid ratification by Member States.[1]
• Support research of human factors in risk assessment for maritime safety and environmental protection.
• Improve board health care and promote the goal-based framework for the safe manning of ships

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[1] European Commission (2009): Strategic goals and recommendations for the EU’s maritime transport policy until 2018
[2] European Commission (2005):Commission staff working document on the establishment of a sustainable European maritime labour force of quality
[3] European Commission (2001): Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the training and recruitment of seafarers, COM/2001/0188 final
[4] European Commission (2007): Council decision of 7 June 2007 authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Community, the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, of the International Labour Organisation. Official Journal of the European Union L 161/63.