The ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006: An Example of Innovative Normative Consolidation in a Globalized Sector

Abstract

This contribution discusses the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006), which has been adopted at the occasion of the 94^th session of the International Labour Conference. This new and innovative instrument marks an important effort to consolidate earlier standards into a single instrument. This article discusses the MLC and its specific regulatory context and features, such as its relationship with other international maritime instruments; the issue of cohesion and effectiveness of the instruments on seafarer protection; the evolving and flexible nature of the MLC, and the relationship with European Union frameworks and implementation measures.