Sierra Leone became the 99th Member State of the ILO to ratify the Convention
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 31, 2022/ — On March 29, 2022, Sierra Leone became the 99th Member State of the ILO to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006 ). It is the 23rd country in Africa, and the 9th in the West African sub-region, to commit to this landmark instrument.
The ratification of the MLC, 2006 by Sierra Leone, a country with over 400 kilometres of Atlantic coastline, will contribute to improving the regulatory framework of its maritime sector in line with the country’s national development plan 2019-2023. The effective implementation of the Convention will promote decent working and living conditions for an important number of seafarers. According to the latest estimates, Sierra Leone had a fleet of 331 ships, representing 1,545,729 Gross Tonnage and 9856 seafarers.
The MLC, 2006 will enter into force for Sierra Leone on 29, 2023, one year after its ratification.