Arbeidsomstandigheden voor 300.000 arbeiders in de maritieme sector in de EU verbeterd (en)
The European Commission welcomes the Council's decision today to improve the working conditions of around 300,000 maritime workers. The Directive will give legal effect to the EU-level agreement reached by the social partners in the maritime transport sector to implement internationally-agreed labour standards set by the International Labour Organisation in 2006.
"The new Directive will improve working conditions for an estimated 300,000 maritime workers across the EU. This agreement will mean better medical care, better access to training and better accommodation for seafarers – to name but some of the benefits. And it's proof once again that social dialogue can play a very decisive role and deliver real benefits, both for workers and employers" said Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
The Commission proposed the Directive on 2 July 2008 as part of its Renewed Social Agenda (IP//08/1093). The social partners had asked the Commission to propose the Directive so as to effectively implement the provisions of their agreement in EU law.
The new standards will improve the working conditions of seafarers as regards 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 maritime shipping sector is an industry operating worldwide under stringent global competition. Against this background it is essential to define and effectively enforce global minimum standards of employment and heath and safety conditions for employees working on board of seagoing ships. The Council Directive will enter in force simultaneously with the 2006 ILO Maritime Labour Convention. It is expected that the Directive will encourage Member States to ratify the Convention and therefore contribute to the binding enforcement of the related social standards.
Related links:
Commission proposal on Council directive implementing the Agreement concluded by the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 and amending Directive 1999/63/EC
http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=483&langId=en
European social dialogue