A22. What is the Special Tripartite Committee?

Article XIII of the MLC, 2006 provides for the establishment of a Special Tripartite Committee (STC) by the ILO’s Governing Body [27]. The mandate of this Committee is to “keep the working of this Convention under continuous review”. Under the Convention the Committee consists of two representatives nominated by the government of each country that has ratified the Convention, and the representatives of shipowners and seafarers appointed by the Governing Body. The Committee has an important role with respect to amendments to the Code [see A9.]. If difficulties are identified in the working of the Convention, or if the Convention needs to be updated, the Special Tripartite Committee, in accordance with Article XV of the Convention, has the power to adopt amendments [see A21.]. The Committee also plays an important consultative role under Article VII for countries that do not have shipowners’ or seafarers’ organizations to consult when implementing the MLC, 2006.

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[27] The ILO Governing Body adopted the Standing Orders, the procedural rules that apply to operation of this Committee. They are available on the ILO MLC, 2006 website under the heading “Special Tripartite Committee” at: www.ilo.org/mlc.

General questions about the MLC, 2006