Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Certification of Ships' Cooks Convention, 1946 (No. 69) - Guinea-Bissau (Ratification: 1977)

Article 3, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Government indicates in its report that, in certain cases, cooks without certificates may be engaged with the authorization of the master of the ship. The Committee recalls that, in accordance with the Convention, exemptions from the obligation to hold a certificate of qualification as a ship’s cook may only be granted by the competent national authority in cases where there is an inadequate supply of certificated ships’ cooks. The Committee hopes that the Government will take every appropriate measure to bring its legislation into conformity with this provision of the Convention.

Article 4. The Committee notes that, in accordance with section 141 of the Regulations on the Maritime Register, the Registration and Rotation of Ships in the Merchant and Fishing Fleet, examinations must in principle be organized to ascertain the capacity of ships’ cooks. It notes, however, that according to the Government’s report, this examination does not exist in practice. The Committee recalls that, in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention, the competent authority shall make arrangements for the holding of examinations and for the granting of certificates of qualification. It hopes that the Government will be in a position to take all the appropriate measures to comply with the obligations set out in the Convention.

Part V of the report form. The Government indicates in its report that the inspection services are currently experiencing difficulties in discharging their functions. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures which have been taken to resolve this problem and hopes that the Government will be in a position to provide the information requested in its next report.