Seafarers' Rights At Sea: The Legal Framework Of International Protections For Maritime Workers

Abstract

Seafarers, as the backbone of global trade, deserve a decent protection. This study looks at how a primary instrument like the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) provides such protection, especially in cases involving long periods of isolation, high occupational risk, limited access to shore-based support, and difficulties in repatriation. As MLC outlined seafarers' labour and welfare rights, this study seek to explore the extent of protection in relation to working conditions, training, hours of rest, medical care, repatriation. One important finding in this study is that enforcement and compliance are the primary reasons for weak protection. Global issues involving Flags of Convenience (FoC) and lessons learned from the COVID-19 case are used to depict the vulnerability of seafarers on board. They also show how the MLC, despite its expansive provisions to protect seafarers, still stumbles in its application and monitoring. Consequently, mechanisms such as Port State Control (PSC) are highlighted as a safety net to ensure compliance by shipowners and flag states. On top of that, this study also argues that international standards must be applied consistently and in a coordinated way, with real willingness from member states to give effect to them.