Vietnam: Ships of 500 gross tonnages or over and engaged in international voyages are required to have a maritime labor certificate

According to Decree No. 121/2014/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, “international voyage” means a voyage of a Vietnamese-flagged ship from a port of Vietnam to a foreign port or between ports in a foreign country.

Decree No. 121/2014/NĐ-CP stipulates the inspection and issuance of maritime labor certificate as follows:

- The working and living conditions of seafarers on ships must be inspected in accordance with the Law of Vietnam, and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

- Ships of 500 gross tonnages or over and engaged in international voyages are required to carry and maintain a maritime labor certificate.

- The Minister of Transport shall promulgate regulations on inspection of working conditions on ships and issuance of maritime labor certificates to ships.

Besides, inspection of ships is carried out as follows:

- The Inspectorate of Vietnam Maritime Administration and of port authorities shall conduct inspections of working and living conditions of seafarers on board ships in accordance with regulations herein and relevant laws of Vietnam.

- The inspection prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article should avoid causing disturbance to the ship’s operations.

- Shipowners and ships’ masters are liable to facilitate the Inspectorate of Vietnam Maritime Administration and of port authorities in the performance of their inspection tasks, and take any required corrective actions against unsafe conditions.

Moreover, shipowners are liable to formulate and promulgate on-board procedures for filing complaints and handling of seafarer complaints. On-board procedures for filing complaints and handling of seafarer complaints must be available to all seafarers and kept on board.

View more details at Decree No. 121/2014/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from March 01, 2015.

Le Hai

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