Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003, as amended (No. 185) - Brazil (Ratification: 2010)

The Committee notes the Government’s second report on the application of the Convention. It also notes that the 2016 amendments to the Annexes of the Convention entered into force for Brazil on 8 June 2017. The Committee recalls that these amendments aim at aligning the technical requirements of the Convention with the latest standards adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with respect to the technology for seafarers’ identity documents (SIDs) provided for in the Convention. In particular, they intend to change the biometric template in SIDs from a fingerprint template in a two-dimensional barcode to a facial image stored in a contactless chip as required by ICAO Document 9303.

Articles 2 to 7 of the Convention. Seafarers’ identity documents. In its previous comment, the Committee requested the Government to keep the Office informed of any progress made in the process of promulgating the decree implementing the Convention, and to indicate any concrete measures – whether legislative, administrative or others – taken for the effective application of the Convention both in law and in practice. In its reply, the Government indicates that Decree No. 8605 of 18 December 2015 has been promulgated to implement the Convention and that the Directorate for Ports and Coasts is currently finalizing the corresponding draft text to allow financial resources to be mobilized for public procurement purposes.

The Committee notes the efforts undertaken to give effect to the Convention. It further recalls the Resolution adopted by the third meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention, as amended (MLC, 2006) whereby it expressed concern about the difficulties seafarers continue to have in accessing shore leave and transiting in certain ports and terminals around the world and recognized that although an increased number of member States have ratified the Convention No. 185, there still appear to be problems in ensuring that the Convention works in the way that it was originally intended. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to adopt the necessary measures to give effect to the provisions of the Convention in the near future.