PRINT

EU Statement - ILO 355th GB - Report of the fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee established under the MLC, 2006 (Geneva, 7–11 April 2025)

26.11.2025
Geneva
Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

ILO Governing Body, 355th session 

17 – 27 November 2025

Report of the fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee established under the MLC, 2006 (Geneva, 7–11 April 2025)

GB.355/LILS/2

EU statement
 

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania1, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova align themselves with this statement.

  1. First of all, we commend the work concluded by the Special Tripartite Committee (STC) which had an ambitious agenda with 16 proposed amendments to consider, including very important amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 which remains the cornerstone of the protection of seafarers’ rights. This meeting has demonstrated once again the quality of tripartite dialogue in the maritime sector.
  2. We welcome that following the STC, the 113th ILC by an overwhelming majority adopted seven amendments to the Code of the MLC, 2006, in accordance with Article XV, paragraph 4, of the MLC, 2006.
  3. We particularly welcome the seventh set of amendments, which aims to ensure that seafarers are effectively protected against violence and harassment on board, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault. These amendments are of great importance for improving the living and working conditions of seafarers on board ships.
  4. The EU regrets that its proposed amendment on the maximum periods of service on board did not achieve sufficient support to be adopted. We continue to believe that this issue is of great importance and should be duly reflected in the text of the MLC, 2006.
  5. The EU and its MS also welcome the adoption by the STC of 4 resolutions, in particular: on the recognition of seafarers as key workers and their indispensable contribution to global commerce and on requesting the issue of work and rest hours be considered by the ILO/IMO joint tripartite working group.
  6. Regarding the proposals to amend the Standing orders of the STC, we understand the need for more flexibility to ensure the committee could carry on its work properly if Officers leave their positions between meetings, as well as in case extraordinary meetings of the STC need to be convened to address urgent matters. In this regard we would like to recall that any extraordinary meeting should be held in full respect of the principle of multilingualism, which underpins multilateralism.
  7. While we support the decisions made by the STC, as the financial situation of the ILO has evolved, we would like to express concern regarding the financial implications of the extension of the mandate of the joint ILO/IMO tripartite working group and the convening of two meetings of this working group. We’d be grateful for clarification from the Office on how the current situation will be taken into account as regards the above decisions.
  8. With this, we can support the decision point as amended by the Employers’ group.
  9. Thank you Chair.

 

1North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process