C5.3.m. What are the onshore complaint handling procedures?

Under Regulation 5.2.2 of the MLC, 2006 a complaint by a seafarer alleging a breach of the requirements of the MLC, 2006 (including seafarers’ rights) may be made to an authorized officer in the port at which the seafarer’s ship has called in accordance with Standard A5.2.2. Appropriate steps must be taken to safeguard the confidentiality of these complaints (Standard A5.2.2, paragraph 7) and the receipt of the complaint should be recorded by the authorized officer and, in the event that matters are not resolved at the ship- board level, and it is not a matter for a more detailed inspection by a PSCO then the flag State’s competent authority must be contacted for advice and a corrective plan of action. In cases where there is no reply from the flag State and the matter is not resolved, then the port State is required to send a copy to the ILO Director-General and to the appropriate shipowners’ and seafarer’s organizations in the port.

Port State responsibilities