A27. Why are some countries listed on the ILO MLC, 2006 website as ratifying but the Convention is not in force for them?

The MLC, 2006 entered into force on 20 August 2013, 12 months after the date on which there were registered ratifications by at least 30 Members of the ILO with a total share in the world gross tonnage of ships of at least 33 per cent. These requirements for initial entry into force are set out in Article VIII, paragraph 3 of the MLC, 2006. They mean that as of 20 August 2013 (when the requirements were met) the MLC, 2006 entered into force and was binding as a matter of international law for those first 30 countries. [see A17.]. For countries that ratified after 20 August 2012, as set out in Article VIII, paragraph 4, the Convention entered into force, (or will enter into force) for that country 12 months after the date the country registered ratification. This is the usual practice for ILO Conventions. As of December 2019, the MLC, 2006 has been ratified by 96 28 countries representing 91 per cent of the world gross tonnage of ships.


28 A list of countries that have ratified and the date of entry into force for each country is available on the ILO website “Ratifications of the MLC, 2006”.


General questions about the MLC, 2006