Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Guinea - Bissau

Food and Catering (Ships' Crews) Convention, 1946 (No. 68) (Ratification: 1977)
Certification of Ships' Cooks Convention, 1946 (No. 69) (Ratification: 1977)
Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) (Ratification: 1977)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s reports on a number of maritime Conventions have not been received. In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues to be addressed in relation to the application of these Conventions, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine them in a single comment, as follows. It requests once again the Government to provide information on the following points:

Repetition

The Committee had previously noted the Government’s indication that a comparative analysis of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) and national legislation had been carried out with the Office’s assistance, and that the MLC, 2006, was before the Popular National Assembly for consideration. It had also noted that 22 merchant shipping vessels were registered in the territory of Guinea Bissau. It requests the Government to provide information on any developments with regard to the possible ratification of the MLC, 2006.

The Food and Catering (Ships’ Crews) Convention, 1946 (No. 68). Article 1(3) of the Convention. Scope of application. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the number of vessels falling within the scope of application of the Convention and on any legislative development giving effect to the Convention.

The Certification of Ships’ Cooks Convention, 1946 (No. 69). Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention. Ship’s cook certificate of qualification. Examinations for the granting of certificates of qualification. The Committee had recalled that Convention No. 69 only allows the competent authority – not the captain – to grant exemptions from the obligation of the ship’s cook to hold a certificate of qualification, and solely in the event of an inadequate supply of certified ships’ cooks. It had also recalled that it is for the national authority to make arrangements for the holding of examinations and for the granting of certificates of qualification. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the adoption of measures giving effect to Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention.

The Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108). Article 4(2) of the Convention. Seafarer’s identity document. Particulars to be included. In its previous comments, the Committee drew the Government’s attention to the fact that Convention No. 108 was not revised by the MLC, 2006, and therefore the comments made under Convention No. 108 would not be affected by the preparations for the ratification of the MLC, 2006. The Committee requests the Government, once again, to modify 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.