Nigeria set to benefit from proposed 2006 Maritime Labour Convention Amendment Codes

(Labour Ministry Report) – The Tripartite Technical Experts of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) have considered the proposed amendments on the codes of the Maritime Labour Convent 2006 aimed at upbraiding the ever-increasing needs in the maritime sector.
 
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Clement Illoh disclosed this on Friday March 14, 2014 at the end of the Technical Tripartite Meeting of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) on the amendment of the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.
 
Clement Illoh stated that the meeting was preparatory to the Special Tripartite Committee Meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) coming up in April, 2014. Adding, to comply with the requirements of the ILO, the proposed amendment must be subjected to individual member – country’s procedures for the tripartite consultation mechanism.  In the case of Nigeria, he noted, the relevant stakeholders in the maritime sector have met and a special technical meeting of NLAC was convened to consider and approve the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting before transmission to the ILO in Geneva on the 17th of March, 2014.
 
According to the Permanent Secretary, giving consideration to the provisions of the proposed amendments would further strengthen the objective and goals of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006. He inferred that the amendments would provide effective mechanisms for commitment and compliance to the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and for sustaining quality shipping and universal standards.
 
He further disclosed that Nigeria is the 35th country to ratify the Convention which was deposited with the ILO by Nigeria in June, 2013. He also indicated that the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 will become binding on Nigeria from June 17, 2014 that is twelve months after its ratification.
                
“In accordance with the MLC 2006 any such amendment must be adopted by a Special Tripartite Committee for consideration by the Member-States which have already ratified the convention. Two sections of the convention, A2.5 and A4.2 presently being proposed for amendment were identified in 2010 for consideration at the first meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee after the MLC 2006 entry into force,” he stressed.
 
He averred that the maritime industrial plan is of critical importance to the Transformation Agenda of the present administration as well as Nigeria’s economy; saying with due diligence to international standards, the  proposed amendments was committed for due consideration and adoption by the NLAC before eventual submission to the ILO.
 
At the end of the meeting which was attended by stakeholders in the maritime sector, including social partners, members resolved to support the amendments as proposed.