hrvatski

Problems and Perspectives of Seafarers’ Labour Contracts in the Light of Maritime Labour Convention with Special Reference to Croatian Legislation

Significant structural changes that have taken place in the transport sector during the 20th century have especially influencedtransformation of the world maritime industry. Increased competitiveness pressure while implementing various cost reduction strategies to survive in the market have inevitably led to changes. These are changes in the size and composition of the maritime workforce, wage cuts, the deterioration of seafarers' living and working conditions, as well as replacement of national regulations governing labour relations in the maritime industry with those of a transnational and international nature. However, cost reductions are primarily achieved by lowering labour and safety standards by avoiding regulatory regimes in the area of work and employment, be they national or international and also by engaging a relatively cheap and inexperienced workforce of different nationalities. That represents a serious threat to labour rights of seafarers.The last hope for the legal strengthening of maritime labour standards is the Maritime Labour Convention. In this paper, the authors give a comparative analysis of seafarers' labour contracts before and after the legal effects of the Maritime Labour Convention, outline criticisms of the de legelata solution and make proposals for a de lege ferenda to improve the living and working conditions of seafarers, not only at European, but also at international level. A special focus is placed on the Croatian legislature.

MLC, Seafarers, Labour status, Croatia

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