Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Food and Catering (Ships' Crews) Convention, 1946 (No. 68) - Türkiye (Ratification: 2005)

Article 4 of the Convention. Permanent and qualified staff. While noting the Government’s reference to sections 9 to 17 of the Regulations on Ships’ Inspection, the Committee requests the Government to transmit a copy of this document and to submit information on the status and qualifications of the inspectors or other persons responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Convention.

Article 6. System of inspection. The Committee notes that in response to its previous comment concerning the organization and functioning of a system of inspection of all aspects of food supply and catering services on board merchant ships, the Government refers to the Protection of Life and Property at Sea Act (Official Gazette No. 4922 of 10 June 1946). The Committee observes, however, that this Act provides for annual inspections of the hull, engine, life saving and fire protection equipment on board for the purpose of granting certificates of seaworthiness and therefore has little relevance to the subject matter of this Convention. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to indicate whether there are any laws or regulations specifically providing for a system of inspection of food and water supplies on board ships, of all spaces and equipment used for the storage and handling of food and water as well as of the qualifications of the crew members of the catering department. The Committee recalls, in this respect, that the requirement for an effective system of inspection of maritime labour conditions, including food and catering, has been incorporated and elaborately detailed in Regulations 5.1.1(2) and 5.1.4, as well as the corresponding Code of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006).

Article 7. Inspections at sea. The Committee again asks the Government to indicate: (i) whether the inspection by the catering board provided under section 27 of the Food and Accommodation Regulations (Official Gazette No. 20378 of 20 December 1989) also encompasses the inspection of the spaces and equipment used for the storage and handling of food and water, as well as the galley and other equipment for the preparation and service of meals; (ii) whether the internal regulations provided for under section 15 of the Food and Accommodation Regulations systematically indicate the intervals at which inspections at sea should be carried out by the catering board; and (iii) measures taken or envisaged ensuring that results of inspections at sea are recorded. Furthermore, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to Standard A3.2(7) of the MLC, 2006, requiring that frequent documented inspections be carried out on board by or under the authority of the master.

Article 8. Special inspection following complaints. Referring to section 27 of the Food and Accommodation Regulations, the Committee asks the Government to provide more detailed information on the implementation of the procedure established for dealing with complaints falling within the scope of the Convention.

Article 10. Annual report. The Committee again asks the Government to provide information on how it ensures that the annual report of the Labour Inspection Board covers food and catering of ships’ crews and is made available to all bodies and persons concerned.

Article 11. Training and refresher courses. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that no specific courses are offered for staff members working in the catering department of ships, and that only general professional courses are organized for hotel and catering services. The Committee asks the Government to provide further details on the training courses organized for staff members employed in the catering department of seagoing ships and to indicate whether refresher courses are organized and give details of such courses. Furthermore, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to Standard A3.2(3) and (4) of the MLC, 2006, requiring that a training course approved or recognized by the competent authority cover practical cookery, food and personal hygiene, food storage, stock control, and environmental protection and catering health and safety.

Article 12. Collection and publication of information. The Committee again asks the Government to describe any measures taken or envisaged with a view to collecting and disseminating information on nutrition, methods of storing, preserving, cooking and serving food, with special reference to catering requirements on board ship.

Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply up-to-date information on the practical application of the Convention, including for instance, extracts from reports of the inspection services showing infringements observed and penalties imposed; available statistics on the number and nature of food and catering-related complaints which may have been made by members of ships’ crews; copies of any relevant collective agreements; information on any training courses for members of the catering department of seagoing vessels; copies of any notices issued by the competent authority to ships’ masters, agents or cooks on food and catering issues, including recommendations to avoid wastage of food or to maintain a proper standard of cleanliness; information on any research or educational work carried out by the competent authority concerning methods of ensuring proper food supply and catering service, as well as any activity undertaken in cooperation with shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations and local authorities concerned with questions of food and health, etc.

Finally, the Committee recalls that Convention No. 68, together with 36 other international maritime labour Conventions, is revised by the MLC, 2006. The Committee hopes that, when considering appropriate amendments to the Food and Accommodation Regulations in order to bring the national legislation into line with Convention No. 68, the Government will also take due account of the corresponding requirements of the MLC, 2006, in particular Regulation 3.2 and the corresponding Code. The Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any decision taken with respect to the ratification and effective implementation of the MLC, 2006.