Janna VaudeyDas ILO-Seearbeitsübereinkommen, 2006 (MLC): Sicherung der internationalen Sozialstandards von Arbeitsbedingungen der Seeleute

Rezension

[…] Vaudey’s book is an important addition to discussions about the implementation of the MLC,2006 around the world. Though severely tested during the COVID-19 crisis, the MLC,2006 remains a critically important instrument to defend the rights of seafarers and support their welfare.

This work, settled in the field of international maritime labour law, takes a look at the employment relationships of seafarers whose workplace is characterised by a weak territorial linkage. Because of their particular place of work in one of the most internationalised economic sectors and in one of the most dangerous working environments seafarers on seagoing merchant ships belong to a vulnerable occupational group.

With the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) the seafarers’ profession has been regulated by a unifying set of rules on an international level. It has been examined whether the MLC, 2006 provides effective protection of the seafarers’ labour and social rights. The author applies an interdisciplinary research approach to highlight the economic, legal and social aspects of the seafarers’ vulnerability.

Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, global sea transport has been maintained thanks to the efforts of seafarers. Just recently they have therefore been recognised as “key workers” by the United Nations. In practice, however, hardly anything has changed regarding the systematic exceeding of working hours at sea and the rare possibilities of shore leave or repatriation in accordance with the contract. Abandonment cases also continue to occur. Clearly, the pandemic has highlighted the need for measures to protect seafarers’ physical and mental health.

The book is aimed not only at legal professionals but also at everybody working in the shipping industry as well as those interested in shipping in general.

The book is written in German.