There are now 35 members of the ILO who have ratified MLC, 2006 (plus 2 more pending), which will enter into force on the 20th August 2013.
With Spain, Greece, Croatia, France, Malta, Cyprus, Netherlands and Luxembourg (and others) in Europe and Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean having already ratified the convention, the pressure is on for the UK to ratify and for the members of the Red Ensign Group (REG) to confirm whether they will be submitting their ratification documents to the UK.
Only the UK can ratify the convention directly with the ILO.
If the UK and therefore the Red Ensign Group fail to ratify the convention before the entry into force date, yachts flying the flags of these registries will be at a serious disadvantage to those from ratifying territories.
John Cook at Lesia has been working with various flag states and has advance authorisation in place for its Seafarers Employment Agreement (SEA).
He has also been advising those clients owning smaller commercial yachts on how to complete the DMLC Part II, for those flag states that have published their DMLC Part I.