INTERNATIONALLABOUROFFICEGENEVAINTERNATIONALLABOURORGANIZATIONInternationalLabourStandardsDepartmentSectoralActivitiesProgrammeProposalforGuidelinesforflagStateinspectionsundertheMaritimeLabourConvention,2006Geneva,2008MEFS/2008INTERNATIONALLABOUROFFICEGENEVAMEFS/2008INTERNATIONALLABOURORGANIZATIONInternationalLabourStandardsDepartmentSectoralActivitiesProgrammeProposalforGuidelinesforflagStateinspectionsundertheMaritimeLabourConvention,2006MeetingofExpertstoadoptGuidelinesonFlagStateInspectionsundertheMaritimeLabourConvention,2006Geneva,2008Copyright©InternationalLabourOrganization2008PublicationsoftheInternationalLabourOfficeenjoycopyrightunderProtocol2oftheUniversalCopyrightConvention.Nevertheless,shortexcerptsfromthemmaybereproducedwithoutauthorization,onconditionthatthesourceisindicated.Forrightsofreproductionortranslation,applicationshouldbemadetoILOPublications(RightsandPermissions),InternationalLabourOffice,CH-1211Geneva22,Switzerland.TheInternationalLabourOfficewelcomessuchapplications.Libraries,institutionsandotherusersregisteredintheUnitedKingdomwiththeCopyrightLicensingAgency,90TottenhamCourtRoad,LondonW1T4LP[Fax:(+44)(0)2076315500;email:cla@cla.co.uk],intheUnitedStateswiththeCopyrightClearanceCenter,222RosewoodDrive,Danvers,MA01923[Fax:(+1)(978)7504470;email:info@copyright.com]orinothercountrieswithassociatedReproductionRightsOrganizations,maymakephotocopiesinaccordancewiththelicencesissuedtothemforthispurpose.ISBN:978-92-2-121291-1Firstedition2008ThedesignationsemployedinILOpublications,whichareinconformitywithUnitedNationspractice,andthepresentationofmaterialthereindonotimplytheexpressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartoftheInternationalLabourOfficeconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,areaorterritoryorofitsauthorities,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiers.Theresponsibilityforopinionsexpressedinsignedarticles,studiesandothercontributionsrestssolelywiththeirauthors,andpublicationdoesnotconstituteanendorsementbytheInternationalLabourOfficeoftheopinionsexpressedinthem.ReferencetonamesoffirmsandcommercialproductsandprocessesdoesnotimplytheirendorsementbytheInternationalLabourOffice,andanyfailuretomentionaparticularfirm,commercialproductorprocessisnotasignofdisapproval.ILOpublicationscanbeobtainedthroughmajorbooksellersorILOlocalofficesinmanycountries,ordirectfromILOPublications,InternationalLabourOffice,CH-1211Geneva22,Switzerland.Cataloguesorlistsofnewpublicationsareavailablefreeofchargefromtheaboveaddress,orbyemail:pubvente@ilo.org.Visitourwebsite:[2008-04-0098-1]-En.doc/v21MeetingofExpertstoadoptGuidelinesonFlagStateInspectionundertheMaritimeLabourConvention,200694th(Maritime)SessionoftheInternationalLabourConference1.WhentheInternationalLabourConferenceadoptedtheMaritimeLabourConvention,2006(MLC,2006),italsoadopted17resolutionsintendedtosupportthepromotion,ratificationandeffectiveimplementationoftheConventionandtheimprovementofdecentworkconditionsinthemaritimesector.12.WithrespecttotheimplementationoftheConventionandinlightofthestrengthenedcomplianceandenforcementobligationscontainedintheArticlesandTitle5ofthenewConvention,theConferenceadoptedtworesolutionsspecificallyintendedtoprovideguidancetoMemberswhenimplementingtheirresponsibilitiesinconnectionwiththeseprovisions.3.Thetworesolutionsarethe“ResolutionconcerningthedevelopmentofguidelinesforportStatecontrol”(resolutionIV),andthe“ResolutionconcerningthedevelopmentofguidelinesforflagStateinspection”(resolutionXIII).4.ResolutionXIIIondevelopingguidelinesforflagStateinspectionreadsasfollows:ResolutionconcerningthedevelopmentofguidelinesforflagStateinspectionTheGeneralConferenceoftheInternationalLabourOrganization,HavingadoptedtheMaritimeLabourConvention,2006,ConsideringthatthisConventionaimstoestablishanewpillarofinternationallegislationfortheshippingindustry,Notingparagraphs1,2and3ofArticleV,andRegulation5.1.1,StandardA5.1.1,GuidelineB5.1.1oftheaboveConvention,whichprovideforflagStateresponsibilities,inspectionandcertificationofmaritimelabourconditions,NotingthatthesuccessoftheConventionwilldepend,amongothers,upontheuniformandharmonizedimplementationofflagStateresponsibilitiesinaccordancewithitsrelevantprovisions,Consideringthat,giventheglobalnatureoftheshippingindustry,itisimportantforflagStateinspectorstoreceiveproperguidelinesfortheperformanceoftheirduties;InvitestheGoverningBodyoftheInternationalLabourOfficetorequesttheDirector-Generaltogiveduepriority,throughtripartitemeetingsofexperts,todevelopingsuitableguidanceforflagStateinspection.5.BothresolutionsIVandXIIIenvisagefuturetripartitemeetingsofexpertstodevelopthisguidance.However,duringthepreparationofwhatwastobecomeresolutionXIII,severalGovernmentrepresentativesexpresseddoubtsastotheneedforinternationalguidelinesonflagStateinspectionorforanexperts’meetingonthatsubject.TheyconsideredthatthevariousissuesweresufficientlyclearintheConvention,thatthereweremultiple1Adopted22February2006,InternationalLabourConf