C4.5.e. What should a country that has already a national social security system in place verify prior to ratifying the MLC, 2006?

For countries that already have an established national social security system covering workers including seafarers “ordinarily resident” in the country concerned and their dependants, then it is likely that very few or possibly no adjustments would be required in order to ratify the MLC, 2006. The only concern would be to specify which of the nine branches are covered and to seek to move to cover all nine branches, if these are not yet covered (Standard A4.5, paragraph 10 and Regulation 4.5, paragraph 2, respectively). If a country has a social security system but it does not yet cover seafarers who are ordinarily resident, then the existing protection would need to be extended to seafarers and their dependants, at a level at least equal to the protection enjoyed by shoreworkers (Regulation 4.5, paragraph 3). If these seafarers are working outside the country, on board ships which fly the flag of other States, then the countries concerned should cooperate, through multilateral and bilateral agreements or other arrangements, to provide for, and ensure, the maintenance of social security rights which have been acquired or in course of acquisition (Standard A4.5, paragraphs 3 and 8). Administrative arrangements should be also made with shipowners and flag States concerned to ensure coverage and the due payment and collection of contributions, where applicable [see C4.5.f.].

Social security