Making Labour History And The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Implications For International Law-Making (And Responses To The Dynamics Of Globalization)

Abstract

This chapter first provides a brief overview of maritime labour in the context of the maritime sector and the international institutional framework. It then provides a detailed overview of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) and highlights several provisions before considering the potential implications of the Convention from a broader systemic perspective. It argues that the MLC, 2006 provides, as suggested by the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), a way forward for the ILO to ensure more effective labour standards and reflects an analysis underway in the ILO with respect to the need to design conventions to take account of the economic dynamics of international labour standards. It is also clear, however, that existing ILO principles and approaches regarding national flexibility must be explicitly considered in connection with other principles such as transparency and accountability. Keywords: international labour law; International Labour Organization (ILO); international law-making; Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)