Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report in reply to its previous comments.

Article 3, paragraph 4, of the Convention. The Committee notes that the trade union for seamen working in the merchant marine, in collaboration with the Maritime Inspection Service, is responsible for providing seamen with information on the provisions of Act No. 158 of 1959 respecting seamen's articles of agreement. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether that collaboration is sufficient to ensure that seamen also understand the meaning of the clauses of the articles of agreement.

Articles 5 and 14. The Committee notes that the document transmitted by the Government with its report is a copy of the seaman's passport which does not mention the work carried out by him on board the vessel, in accordance with Article 5, paragraph 1, but that it contains a heading relating to the seaman's "ability". If this word is equivalent to "quality of the work" the provisions of Article 5, paragraph 2, would not be applied. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide particulars in this respect and that seamen will be given a document containing a record of their employment on board the vessel, as provided for in the Convention. It also hopes that the Government will indicate the provisions which give effect to Article 14, paragraph 2 (the right of the seaman to obtain from the master a separate certificate as to the quality of his work or, failing that, a certificate indicating whether he has fully discharged his obligations under the agreement).

Article 6, paragraph 3(11). Please state whether national law provides that annual leave with pay shall be granted to the seaman after one year's service with the same shipping company.