Where should Welfare Boards exist?

As the UK's National Seafarers Welfare Board, we believe that national boards should exist in all countries where the Maritime Labour Convention (ILO MLC, 2006) and/or Work in Fishing Conventions (ILO C188) have been ratified. Member states are required to consider establishing welfare boards as a means of improving seafarers' welfare.

National Seafarers' Welfare Boards provide oversight of Regional and Local Welfare Boards or Port Welfare Committees, which bring all stakeholders together to improve welfare in ports and monitor provision to ensure that effective . are are active or there are plans to be active. Local Welfare Boards should exist in one or more major ports, especially in ports where welfare facilities such as Seafarers Centres are needed or already in situ.

Compared to the number of major ports worldwide, there are only understood to be a small amount of national and local Welfare Boards in existence.  However, it is known that there are many Seafarers’ Welfare Committees associated to numerous Seafarers Centres around the world which, with the addition of key maritime personnel, have the potential to become effective Welfare Boards.  Organisers of such Committee are requested to Contact Us using the Help button below.