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

Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - Guinea - Bissau (Ratification: 1977)

Article 4(2) of the Convention. Seafarer’s identity document – Particulars to be included. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it has undertaken the process of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), and consequently is not in a position to submit a report on the application of the present Convention. However, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the fact that Convention No. 108 is not revised by the MLC, 2006, and therefore the comments made under this Convention would not be affected by the preparations for the ratification of the MLC, 2006. The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will modify in the near future the current seafarer’s identity document (cédula de inscricão marítima) in order to include a statement that the document is a seafarer’s identity document for the purpose of this Convention, and requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any decision taken in this respect.

The Committee seizes the opportunity to draw the Government’s attention to the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185), which revises Convention No. 108 and which was adopted to enhance port and border security, while at the same time facilitating the seafarer’s right to shore leave, by developing a more secure and globally uniform seafarer’s identity document. The Committee hopes that the Government will consider the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 185 in the near future – ratification which would involve the automatic denunciation of Convention No. 108 – and requests it to keep the Office informed of any decision that it might take in this matter.