A44. Where can I find the amendments to the MLC, 2006 and what is their status? Do they already apply?

The Amendments to the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, are available on the ILO MLC, 2006 website at: www.ilo.org/mlc. As of December 2019, three sets of amendments have been adopted:

Amendments of 2014 to the MLC, 2006 – Status: In force – End of formal disagreement period: 18 July 2016 – Date of entry into force: 18 Jan. 2017 – Topics: Financial security system to compensate seafarers in cases of abandonment, long-term disability and death.

Amendments of 2016 to the MLC, 2006 – Status: In force – End of formal disagreement period: 8 July 2018 – Date of entry into force: 8 Jan. 2019 – Topics: Protection of the seafarers against shipboard harassment and bullying Extension of the validity of Maritime Labour Certificates in circumstances where ships have passed the relevant inspection but where a new certificate cannot immediately be issued and made available on board.

Amendments of 2018 to the MLC, 2006 – Status: Not in force – End of formal disagreement period: 26 June 2020 – Date of entry into force: 26 Dec. 2020 – Topics: Payment of the seafarers’ wages and entitlements during their period of captivity in cases of piracy or armed robbery against ships.

Concerning the entry into force of the amendments to the Code of the MLC, 2006, a distinction must be drawn between three different situations:

The MLC, 2006 is ratified before the approval of the amendment

Article XV

(7) An amendment approved by the Conference shall be deemed to have been accepted unless, by the end of the prescribed period [two years from the date of notification], formal expressions of disagreement have been received by the Director-General from more than 40 per cent of the Members which have ratified the Convention and which represent not less than 40 per cent of the gross tonnage of the ships of the Members which have ratified the

(8) An amendment deemed to have been accepted shall come into force six months after the end of the prescribed period for all the ratifying Members except those which had formally expressed their disagreement in accordance with paragraph 7 of this Article, and have not withdrawn such disagreement in accordance with paragraph 11. However:

(a) before the end of the prescribed period, any ratifying Member may give notice to the Director-General that it shall be bound by the amendment only after a subsequent express notification of its acceptance; and

(b) before the date of entry into force of the amendment, any ratifying Member may give notice to the Director-General that it will not give effect to that amendment for a specified

(11) A Member that has formally expressed disagreement with an amendment may withdraw its disagreement at any time. If notice of such withdrawal is received by the Director-General after the amendment has entered into force, the amendment shall enter into force for the Member six months after the date on which the notice was registered.

The MLC, 2006 is ratified between the date of the approval of an amendment and the date of its entry into force

The government concerned may “accept the amendments by addressing a formal declaration to that effect to the Director-General” 36 . Until such declaration is received by the ILO, the country will not be bound by the amendments.

The MLC, 2006 is ratified after the entry into force of an amendment

Article XV

(12) After entry into force of an amendment, the Convention may only be ratified in its amended form.

36 The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations adopted a general observation in 2016, which clarifies the situation of member States which have ratified the MLC, 2006 between the date of the approval of an amendment and the date of its entry into force. The issue was also discussed at the third meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee.


General questions about the MLC, 2006