On 6 October 2015, the Government of Cabo Verde deposited with the International Labour Office the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006). The Republic of Cabo Verde is the 67th ILO member State to ratify the Convention, which seeks to ensure comprehensive worldwide protection of the rights of seafarers, at the same time establishing a level playing field for countries and shipowners committed to providing decent working and living conditions for seafarers, protecting them from unfair competition on the part of substandard ships. The Republic of Cabo Verde, which has a merchant fleet of 44.465 gross tonnage of shipping, is a Member of the West and Central Africa Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Abuja MOU).

The Convention will enter into force for the Republic of Cabo Verde on 6 October 2016, that is, one year after its ratification. To date, the States that have ratified the MLC, 2006 represent approximately 80 per cent of the world gross tonnage of shipping. For more background information, please visit the dedicated MLC webpage at /mlc.