CONCEPT PAPER:

Regional Meeting on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers for Asia

Tuesday, 13 November 2018, Manila Hotel, Manila, Philippines

1. Background

Asia is recognised as the largest supplier of seafarers to the international fleet and seafarers are
recognised as essential to the conduct of international trade and as a special category of worker.
Given the global nature of the shipping industry and the different jurisdictions that seafarers
may be brought into contact with, they need special protection, especially in relation to contacts
with public authorities in the event of a maritime accident.

The Guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident (the
Guidelines), which were jointly promulgated by the International Maritime Organization (the
IMO) and the International Labor Organization (the ILO), seek to ensure that seafarers are
treated fairly following a maritime accident.

The Guidelines, which are voluntary, do not seek to interfere with any State's domestic,
criminal, or civil law. Instead, they balance the rights and obligations of stakeholders to whom
the Guidelines are addressed, namely port or coastal States, flag States, the seafarers’ States,
shipowners and seafarers.

2. Previous work

In June 2017, a highly successful international conference on the Guidelines was held at the
headquarters of the IMO in London. Representatives from more than 50 countries attended
that specially convened conference, and calls were made for regional meetings for further
discussion of the Guidelines. The first regional meeting is being held in Asia in recognition of
the region’s importance as the largest supplier of seafarers to the international fleet.

3. Objectives of regional meeting

The objectives of the regional meeting include:

• to raise awareness concerning the Guidelines amongst all stakeholders and role players;

• to discuss capacity building and skills transfer in relation to the Guidelines and relevant
matters associated with the Guidelines; and

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• to discuss cooperation amongst States at regional and international level in relation to the
Guidelines.

All these matters will be covered as part of the programme of the regional meeting in keynote
addresses by Governments, as well as panel discussions by experts.

4. Participants

Participants include:

• senior Government officials and ambassadors from Asian countries;

• senior representatives of the maritime industry, including shipowners and seafarers’
unions;
• senior representatives of the IMO and ILO;
• senior representatives of maritime administrations from Asian countries;
• judges;
• professors;
• auditors;
• casualty investigators;
• prosecutors;
• master mariners; and
• seafarers.

5. Date and Venue

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Manila Hotel, Manila, Philippines

6. Content – Programme of Activities

08.30 Registration and Coffee

09:00 – 09:15 Welcome Remarks by the Secretary of Labor and Employment
09:15 – 09:30 Opening Remarks by Seafarers’ Rights International
09:30 – 11:00 Statements by Governments
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:30 Statements by Industry
12:30 - 13:00 Introduction of the Philippine President His Excellency Rodrigo
Roa Duterte
Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker
13:00 – 13:30 Summation of statements and Asian Declaration
Photos
13.30 – 14.30 Lunch
14:30 – 16:30 Presentations and discussions on the Guidelines
17:00 Reception

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