Ilo-imo

International Labor Convention and Recommendation Dr. Oladokun Sulaiman

Lecture outline • International shipping policies: – The key challenge: Regulating a globalised industry – International regulations and agreements – International co-operation

• Key players – – – –

Ship-owners Port states Flag states Classification societies

The development of a globalised shipping industry • Shipping has evolved from being an international industry to the first truly global industry – Before 1920s: National industries in an international market – After WW2: Mobile means of production, open registries and market liberalisation – Gradually globalization of technologies, capital and labour – 1970/80s: Shipping the first globalised industry

Open registries: A key necessary condition for a globalised industry • Characteristics of open registries: – – – –

No nationality requirements on crewing No/low tax business environment Liberal company legislation Many without national shipowners • E.g. Panama, Liberia, Bahamas ...

• Creating a global capital and labour market in shipping • Facilitating the development of a globalised industry

National regulations not sufficient • National or regional regulations may be both ineffective and inefficient: – May be evaded – Different national regulations cause inefficiencies and competitive distortions

• Global standards necessary to avoid a “race to the bottom” • A globalised industry requires global regulations

Regulatory framework and institutions • Market access: – WTO (1995) – National – UNCTAD/OECD

• Safety and environment: – IMO (1948)

• Working conditions and social standards: – ILO (1919)

• Competition policy: – National / Regional (EU) – UNCTAD / OECD

International Maritime Organization (IMO) • • • •

Established in 1948 Secretariat in London 163 member states Mission: ”Safer shipping and cleaner oceans” • Establishes minimum standards for ship – construction, and – operation

How the IMO works • Proposal is assigned to a committee or a subcommitte • Adopted by a special conference • Conventions typically enter into force on ratification by 15 countries representing at least 50% of world tonnage • Lengthy process to adopt, amend and ratify conventions. Some may be amended by simplified procedures • Conflict between states with strong environmental safety concerns and developing/open registry states

Regional vs. Global regulations The case of doble hulling • Exxon Valdez grounding in Alaska, 1989 – Oil spill of 37 000 tons crude oil – Triggered the US Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) • Double hull requirement for new oil tankers • Phasing out existing single hull tankers by 2015 – MARPOL Annex I amendments

• Erika, France 1999 – EU pressure for accelerated phasing out of single hull tankers • MARPOL Annex I amended April 2001

• Prestige, November 2002 – Unilateral EU-regulation (Regulation (EC) No 417/2002) – (Cat 1: 2007, Cat 2 and 3: 2015)

– MARPOL Annex I amended December 2003 (Cat 1: 2005, Cat 2 and 3: 2005-2010)

The challenge of enforcement • To be sustainable global standards must – Meet the legitimate requirements of • • • • •

Shippers Shipowners Environmental interests Consumer interests The general public

– Be credibly enforced by • Flag states • Port states • Classification societies

International Labour Organization (ILO) • Established in 1919, UN: 1946 • Secretariat in Geneva • General conference once a year • Conventions on work conditions and labour standards • Maritime Conference every 10 years • Adopted 32 maritime conventions and 25 recommendations

International Labour Organisation •

Philadelphia Declaration 1944 –

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ILO a. labour is not a commodity b. freedom of expression and association are essential to sustain progress c. poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere d. the war against want requires to be carried on with unrelenting vigour within each nation, and by continuous and concerted international effort in which the representative of workers and employers, enjoying equal status with those of governments, join with them in free discussion and democratic decision with a view to the promotion of the common welfare

ILO Legal Instruments • Two types: – International Convention – Recommendations • Each member of ILO has 18 months to bring the Convention before the national authority/authorities for the enactment of national legislation or other actions • Members have to inform the Director General (DG) of ILO of the measures taken • Members also have to communicate the formal ratification of the Convention to the DG

Convention and Recommendation • Convention – Requires ratifications from Members to make effective the provisions of such convention – Once ratified requires reporting on the status of implementation – Requires explanation from Members for non-ratification

• Recommendation: – Does not require ratification from Members – No further obligations from Members

Article 19.3, ILO Constitution • “In framing any Convention or Recommendation of general application the Conference shall have due regard to those countries in which climatic conditions, the imperfect development of industrial organization, or other special circumstances make the industrial conditions substantially different….”

Existing ILO instruments for the fishing sector • Five Conventions • Two Recommendations

Existing ILO Instruments • •

Hours of Work Recommendation, 1920, No. 7 Minimum Age Convention, 1959, No. 112 (29 of which 20 have been denounced) – Does not apply to fishing in ports, harbours, estuaries of rivers

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Medical Examination Convention, 1959, No. 113 (29) – Flexible based on national competent authority

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Article of Agreement Convention, 1959, No. 114 (22) – Flexible based on national competent authority

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Competency Certificates Convention, 1966, No. 125 (10) – Does not apply to vessels below 25 tons and 24.4 metres

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Accommodation of Crews (Fishermen) Convention, 1966, No. 126 (22) – Does not apply to vessels below 25 tons and 24.4 metres

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Vocational Training (Fishermen) Recommendation, 1966, No. 126

Minimum Standards in Merchant Ships, 1976 (No 147) • For ocean going ships • Seagoing ships determine by national legislature that deal with: -Safety , competency, hours of work, Manning and social security - Shipboard condition of employment - Procedure – employment of seamen & investigation of complaints & reporting procedures - Member states to verify compliance with ratified convention by i.e inspection - Official inquiry to be on serious marine casualty & loss of life at sea - Ship not unnecessarily detained

Minimum Age for Employment 1921(No 15) • Not to employ person under age of 16yr • Ship master to keep list and DOB of person under 16 Minimum Age for Employment 1973(No 138)

• National policy to abolish child labor • Member to specify minimum age <15 yr • Register of names under 18yr of age to be kept by the employer

Minimum requirement for masters and officers 1936 (No 53) • • • • • • • •

Master = person in command of the vessel Navigation officer in charge of watch- person actually in charge of navigation and maneuvering of a vessel , other than a pilot Chief engineer- person responsible for mechanical propulsion of a vessel Engineer officer in charge of watch= person who is for a particular time in charge of vessel engine. Person to hold appropriate COC Condition for granting CON national legislature prescribe = minimum age & minimum period of professional experience of candidates for each grade of COC National legislation to prescribe penalty for cases of non compliance & forge documents