By Innocent Orok
The Abuja MOU on Ports State Control of West and Central Africa has commenced a 5- day intensive training course on Maritime Labour Convention ( MLC 2006) in Duala, Cameron.
According to a statement from the Secretary General of the Abuja MOU, Captain Sunday Umoren, the training is for Port State Control Officers of member states of the Abuja MOU and others in collaboration with the International Labour Organization ( ILO).
Captain Sunday Umoren said,
“We are pleased to share the successful commencement of the 5-day intensive training course on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) currently ongoing at Hôtel Sawa, Douala, Cameroon. This event is organized by the Abuja MoU Secretariat in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Cameroon Ministry of Transport.
“This training is particularly relevant to Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) in the Abuja MoU region as it forms part of the Relevant Instruments of the MoU. It is crucial for PSCOs to acquire in-depth knowledge of the Convention to enable them to properly conduct inspections related to seafarers’ rights and general well-being”, he said.
Highlights from the Interview with Captain Sunday Umoren, Secretary General of the Abuja MoU:
“MLC 2006 is basically the Seafarer’s Bill of Rights, and yet, a lot of countries in the Abuja MoU have not ratified or domesticated this convention, which is very critical, as it is one of the relevant instruments of the Abuja MoU. Essentially, the convention deals with the living conditions of seafarers. As highlighted, a happy crew translates to safer ships.”
Attendees included representatives from:
Organisation internationale du travail (OIT), International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Ministry of Transport, Cameroon, Member States from the Abuja MoU region,
Port Authorities of Cameroon
Secrétariat du MoU d’Abuja,
The Labour Attache’ Permanent Mission of Nigeria (ILO HQTRS, Switzerland).
“The Abuja MoU appreciates the International Labour Organization, its facilitators, and the Cameroon Ministry of Transport for their support and efforts towards the success of this training”, Captain Umoren added.