In 2006 the International Labour Organisation (ILO) adopted a new Maritime Labour Convention. The convention sets out comprehensive rights and labour protections for seafarers. It revises and consolidates over 60 existing ILO maritime labour instruments, in some cases dating back to the 1920s. They include 14 conventions to which New Zealand is a Party, which are implemented primarily in the Maritime Transport Act 1994 and in maritime rules. Obligations are also given effect through general legislation concerning labour, occupational health and safety, accident compensation, and social welfare.

The Maritime Labour Convention applies to approximately 31 commercial New Zealand ships with a gross tonnage of 200 or more, and smaller ships engaged in international voyages, and 900 foreign ships that enter our ports, including cargo vessels and cruise liners. Fishing vessels are excluded, and are to be dealt with separately by the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), another ILO convention which is not yet in force.

The main advantage of the convention is to allow New Zealand to inspect foreign ships carrying New Zealand goods and verify that they treat their crews fairly, to internationally accepted standards. This is important to protect the reputation of New Zealand’s exports and trade. Another benefit is a lower risk of maritime accidents resulting from human error by fatigued, malnourished, or pressured crews.

The cost, impacts and risks of ratifying the Convention are minimal, because:

• the Convention was developed in partnership with shipping interests to ensure that the Convention’s minimum standards reflect current industry practice and can be easily met by most shipowners
• New Zealand law, which applies to New Zealand registered ships, is already consistent with the Convention.