3. The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 As An Instrument Of The International Labour Organization

Abstract

[ Since its creation in 1919, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has adopted 188 international labour conventions, five protocols to existing conventions, and 200 recommendations (collectively described as international labour standards or 'ILS'), a total of almost 400 international labour instruments. This chapter demonstrates both the sophistication and complexity of the ILO supervisory system. Its development has been informed by pragmatism shaped by the decisions of the Governing Body and the Conference in giving effect to their responsibility to ensure the smooth and effective functioning of the system. The chapter highlights the important role of the Governing Body with regard to all the supervisory procedures, except for the regular supervisory procedure, which is ultimately the responsibility of the Conference. This implies that the Governing Body is able to maintain oversight of the procedures and is in a position to ensure that the necessary linkages and differentiation are maintained. Keywords:governing body; international labour instruments; international labour organisation (ILO) supervisory system; international labour standards , This chapter provides an introduction to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and highlights some of the key points about the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 and its background. A brief overview of the international maritime regulatory regime, including the legal framework in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) and some basic information about the ILO, is presented in detail. The chapter also provides introductory information on concepts and terminology in the fields covered by this book. Finally it provides an overview of the law of the sea and the international maritime regulatory regime within which the MLC, 2006, as a labour convention, is also situated and, indeed, is shaped by. Keywords:international labour organization (ILO); international maritime regulatory regime; law of the sea; Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 ]