China signs up to MLC

On 12 November 2015 the People’s Republic of China became the 68th state to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), which entered into force in August 2013. China has a merchant fleet of approximately 3,000 ships amounting to nearly 45,000 gross tons and ratification will extend the benefits of the Convention to more than 250,000 seafarers. It will enter into force in China on 12 November 2016. The states that have ratified the Convention include the major flag states and represent more than 80% of the world gross tonnage of shipping.