C4.5.d. What is meant by complementary social security protection?

In the MLC, 2006 many of the areas of social protection are addressed through what can be described as complementary requirements for shipowners, flag States and States of residence, which, together, aim at providing comprehensive social security protection for seafarers. Short-term protection is ensured by: (1) the obligation for flag States which ratify the MLC, 2006 to provide medical care on board, while any ratifying State must give access to its facilities to seafarers in need of immediate medical care who are on board ships within its territory (Regulation 4.1) [see C4.1.]; (2) at the same time, shipowners are required to provide protection (often through insurance systems) against sickness, injury or death occurring in conjunction with employment to the seafarers working on their ships, irrespective of the seafarers’ nationality or place of residence (Regulation 4.2) [see C4.2.].

This shorter term protection is intended to be complemented by or combined with the longer-term protection required in Regulation 4.5 in at least three branches at the time of ratification. The branches of medical care, sickness benefit and employment injury benefit are recommended in this regard in Guideline B4.5, paragraph 1, because they directly complement the existing responsibilities of shipowners under Regulations 4.1 and 4.2.

Social security