EU – Social partners' agreement to improve standards for 300,000 maritime workers: proposal for a new Council Directive 24.07.2008

The European Commission has put forward a proposal to improve working conditions for the estimated 300,000 maritime workers across the EU.

The new legislation is based on an EU-level agreement by employers and trade unions in the sector and would incorporate internationally-agreed standards. To mark the agreement, the Social Partners, Commissioner Špidla and Vice-President Tajani met for a public event in the Port of Brussels.

"This agreement will create binding standards which will strengthen the internationally-agreed standards at international, European and local level," said Commissioner for Employment & Social Affairs Vladimír Špidla. "It will improve working conditions for thousands and create more and better jobs in the maritime sector, while reducing social dumping.

On the first European Maritime Day (20 May 2008), employers' and workers' representatives from the maritime shipping industry (the European Transport Workers’ Federation and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations) signed a joint agreement on labour standards in the industry. The agreement aims to incorporate certain provisions of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) 2006 Maritime Labour Convention into European law and comes after 1½ years of negotiations.

The new standards will in particular improve the working conditions of seafarers in terms of employment agreements, hours of work, repatriation, careers and skill development, accommodation and recreation facilities, food and catering, health and safety protection and medical care, and complaint procedures.

The EU played a key role in negotiating the Maritime Labour Convention. It also has a crucial role in accelerating its entry into force given that the 27 Member States together account for a total of 28% of the world fleet. The conditions for entry into force laid down by the Convention call for 30 States accounting for at least 33% of world tonnage.

The social partners requested the Commission to propose a Council Directive through which the provisions contained in their agreement should be effectively implemented in EU law.