Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention, 1921 (No. 16) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1972)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Article 2 of the Convention. Medical examination. The Committee notes the Government’s information in its latest report that the minimum age required for admission to the Marine Academy, Chittagong, is 16 years and that the first two years of training are merely academic. Consequently, there are no students involved in on-board training under the age of 18. However, sections 98(c) and 99(2)(b) and (c) of the Bangladeshi Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1983 (BMSO’83), state circumstances, other than when a person is carrying out work on board a vessel as part of their academic training, when a person under 18 years of age is allowed to be employed on a ship. Further, according to section 100(1), the employment of children and young persons under the age of 18 years is conditional on the production of a medical fitness certificate for such work and continuation for such employment is subject to re-examination every year. The Committee recalls that, under Standard A1.1 of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), the minimum age for employment on board a ship has been raised to 16 years. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the practical application of the Convention.

Finally, the Committee takes this opportunity to recall that the MLC, 2006, which revised Conventions Nos 16 and 73 on medical examination of seafarers, sets out in Regulations 1.1, 1.2 and Standards A1.1 and A1.2, the most up-to-date standards concerning minimum age and mandatory medical examination of seafarers, and therefore ensuring compliance with Convention No. 16 would facilitate the implementation of the corresponding requirements of the MLC, 2006. The Committee accordingly asks the Government to keep the Office informed of any progress made in the process of ratification of the MLC, 2006.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Article 2 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. The Committee had previously noted the Government’s indication that the minimum age for on-board training is 17 years and the entry age for the Marine Academy is 16 years. It had asked the Government to provide information on whether the courses at the Marine Academy include on-board training and, if so, how the medical examination of trainees is assured. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that Bangladeshi seafarers under the age of 18 years are not allowed to engage on ship. At the same time the Committee notes the Government’s information that, according to the Bangladeshi Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1983 (BMSO’83), the employment of children and young persons under the age of 18 years is conditional on the production of a medical fitness certificate for such work and continuation for such employment is subject to re-examination every year. The Committee requests the Government to indicate how the medical examination of trainees under the age of 18, who in practice are employed on board ships, is assured. It also asks the Government to provide statistical information on the medical examinations carried out for seafarers under the age of 18 years. Finally, the Committee asks the Government to provide a copy of the Bangladeshi Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1983.

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

Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report. The Government indicates that the minimum age for on-board training is 17 years. The entry age for the two courses at the Marine Academy is 16 years. Please state whether these two courses include on-board training and, if so, how medical examination of trainees is assured.

Section 98 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1983, prescribes that no person under the age of 15 years is permitted for employment on board. Please indicate the number of seafarers including trainees under the age of 18 years who are employed on board ships.

Part III of the report form. The Committee repeats its request of 1997 for statistical information on the medical examinations carried out for seafarers under the age of 18 years, if such statistics are available.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

The Committee notes the information in the Government's report for 1996.

The Committee requests the Government to provide information concerning the application in practice of the Convention: (i) the number of medical examinations carried out for young seafarers under 18 years of age, (ii) the number of medical certificates issued and the period of their validity, (iii) the number of medical examinations resulting in a refusal to issue a certificate, and (iv) inspection statistics, including the number of contraventions and the penalties imposed.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 1999.]