REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA --Indonesia's ratification of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006 will help protect its sailors and crew members, Manpower Minister M Hanif Dhakiri has stated.

"The ratification of the MLC 2006 is mainly aimed at protecting our sailors and crew members when it comes to fulfilling their basic rights related to wages, work conditions, work and rest hours, medical care, health insurance, social insurance, training, placement and supervision," he said at a working meeting with the House of Representatives here on Monday (9/5).

The House Commission IX has received explanations from the government about a bill on the ratification of the MLC 2006. The bill will later be brought to a meeting of the House's Steering Committee to be included in the agenda of a plenary meeting.

The minister noted that the ratification of the MLC will have a positive impact on the country's comprehensive efforts, particularly as it steps up its active role at international forums.

By ratifying the convention, Indonesia will be able to enhance labor protection in the maritime sector, give optimum protection to its ship crew members, expand job opportunities for its ship crew members in the maritime sector, increase the competitive edge of its shipbuilding industry at a global level and improve coordination among stakeholders, particularly government agencies, in the maritime field.

He further said the ratification of the convention is part of the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens employed as sailors, increase the capacity of shipping industry to be able to compete with foreign rivals, and step up coordination among stakeholders, particularly ministries and non-ministerial government institutions.

The MLC 2006 is an international labor standard adopted at the 94th international labor session in February 2006. It also renews the existing 37 ILO conventions in the maritime labor sector.

"The aim of adopting this convention is to ensure the protection of sailors' labor rights worldwide and to give a standard reference guide to each country and to ship owners to provide a secure workplace for sailors," he emphasized.

The convention came into effect in all ILO member states on August 20, 2013 after 30 member states ratified it.

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