Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - Latvia (Ratification: 1993)

The Committee notes the information in the Government's report according to which the identity document is issued upon request by the employer (shipowner), and is drawn up and kept by the Latvian Sailor's Registry Office.

The Committee draws the Government's attention to the requirement under Article 2(1) of the Convention that the seafarer has the right to apply in his personal capacity for the identity document and is not obliged to apply through the intermediary of the employer. Moreover, Article 3 of the Convention specifies that the identity document shall remain in the seafarer's possession at all times; therefore, it cannot be kept by the Registry Office.

The Committee further recalls the provisions under Article 4(6) of the Convention which require consultations with shipowners' and seafarers' organizations as to the form and content of the seafarers' identity document.

While the Committee notes that under national law the Seaman's Discharge Book serves as the identity document, it recalls that all obligations concerning identity documents pursuant to the Convention are applicable, irrespective of the denomination of the document or its other uses.

The Committee, therefore, requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on steps taken or envisaged to: (i) bring this legislation into conformity with the Convention, in particular as concerns the application for and continuous possession of the seafarers' identity document by the seafarer; and (ii) provide details concerning consultations with shipowners' and seafarers' organizations as to the form and content of the identity document.