C5.2.5.b. Who is responsible for developing the on-board complaint procedures?

The obligation (under Standard A5.1.5, paragraph 2 of the MLC, 2006) is on countries to adopt laws or regulations to ensure that appropriate on-board complaint procedures are in place. Guideline B5.1.5, paragraph 1, recommends [see A12.], subject to any relevant provisions of an applicable collective agreement, that a model for those procedures should be developed by the competent authority [see A25.] in close consultation with shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations. This procedure aims to resolve complaints on board, or at the level of the shipping company and it is to be distinguished from other complaint procedures provided for by the MLC, 2006, which are directly addressed to and examined by the competent authority (see for example Standards A1.4 paragraph 7; A5.1.4, paragraph 5; A5.2.1, paragraph 1(d); A5.2.2; Guideline B2.7).

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