Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Placing of Seamen Convention, 1920 (No. 9) - Uruguay (Ratification: 1933)

1. The Committee has noted the observations made in September and October 1989 by the Naval Engineers Central and the Inter-Union Assembly of Workers-National Convention of Workers (PIT-CNT) concerning the system of administration of employment offices for seamen, in connection with the elaboration of the Draft Regulations for the Staff Register of the Merchant Marine and the requirements of Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee has also noted that these observations were sent to the Government, in September and November 1989 respectively, for such comments as might be judged appropriate. The Committee observes that no comments have been communicated by the Government so far. It hopes that the Government will include in its next report any comments it considers appropriate in order to enable the Committee to examine the questions raised by the above-mentioned organisations in substance at its next session.

2. The Committee refers to its previous direct request concerning the application of Article 5 of the Convention which read as follows:

With reference to the Committee's previos comments, the Government indicated that the social partners had not appointed delegates to the advisory committee set up by Decree No. 600/977. In its last report, the Government included a copy of Decree 784/987 setting up an employment service for captains, masters, engineer-officers and crew of fishing vessels flying the national flag. In its direct request of 1984, the Committee referred to the relevant decisions of the International Labour Conference at its 2nd and 3rd Sessions (Record of Proceedings, Genoa, 1920, pp. 40 and 41 and Geneva, 1921, p. 868) to the effect that this Convention does not cover fishing vessels. The Committee noted from the Government's indications in its last report, that the crews of fishing vessels make up the vast majority of seamen in the country.

The Committee also noted the Government's statement to the effect that the maritime authorities had confirmed their interest in setting up administrative committees for the employment service for seamen and for deck-officers and engineer-officers, both of which would be in tripartite form, with representatives of the associations of crew members, shipowners and the State. It hopes that in its next report the Government will provide the information requested in the report form on the committees that have been set up.

[The Government is asked to report in detail for the period ending 30 June 1990.]