Officials working on preparations for China's signing of an international maritime labor agreement have made "major breakthroughs", a senior official said, raising hopes among industry insiders that new standards will come into force as early as next year.

The Maritime Labour Convention, which covers the rights, salaries and living conditions of merchant marines, has been under consideration since 2006.

"We have reached consensus on most major issues, and only a few issues are still under discussion," said Xu Zuyuan, vice-minister of transport, at the second China Seafarer Conference in Shanghai on Monday.

The event coincided with the Day of the Seafarer, which was established by the International Maritime Organization in 2010 to pay tribute to seafarers all over the world.

The convention was proposed by the International Labor Organization and needs to be ratified by 30 of its members before it can take effect.

So far, 28 have signed up. Sweden became the latest to ratify the convention on June 12, becoming the eighth European Union nation. Other countries that ratified the convention include Australia, Canada and Singapore.

"The ILO predicts more countries will ratify the convention in the near future," said Bao Junzhong, an associate professor at Dalian Maritime University.

China has 650,000 seafarers, who are responsible for 93 percent of its transport for the country's foreign trade, which amounted to $3.6 trillion last year, according to China's ministries of transport and commerce.

"As far as I know, Chinese authorities are speeding up research and coordination on ratifying the convention, and the domestic shipping industry is working hard so it can cope with the challenges once it takes effect," said Ruan Wei, a professor at Shanghai Maritime University.

For example, he said, in recent years a series of special laws and regulations have been established to protect the rights and interests of seafarers in China.

"The convention demands new and higher requirement from us to protect the rights and interests of maritime workers," said Qiu Xiaoping, vice-minister of human resources and social security.

However, according to Bao, working conditions and social security enjoyed by maritime workers in China in general still lag behind the mandatory requirement of the convention.

"Chinese seafarers of middle and lower levels still earn less than is required," he said. "A lot of time is still needed for shipowners and seafarer service agencies, among others, to improve living and working conditions for seafarers."

Implementing the convention is also likely to force small shipping companies and recruitment agencies out of the market.

"Honoring the convention will definitely increase the operational cost of shipping companies," said Fu Xiangyang, chairman of the labor union of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co. "With the still bleak global market for this sector the shipping companies will feel more burden in the short term."

However, safeguarding the interests of seafarers serves the industry's own interests in the long run, he said.

"Although the convention hasn't come into force yet, we have already taken measures based on the convention to provide better living and working conditions for our employees," said Gao Yanguo, assistant to the CEO of Hebei Ocean Shipping, which has a fleet of 150 ships, the fourth-largest among shipping companies in China.

The company has built new accommodation and entertainment facilities with a standard higher than required by the convention, and all its ships have been equipped with communication systems for its maritime workers so they can send e-mails and call their families any time, he said.

For workers themselves, the convention is good news.

"I think the convention can better protect our working conditions," said Zhang Wei, an engineer for Dalian International Shipping. "I noticed one article places a limit on noise levels on board, and this may be helpful for us to work in a quieter environment."

Xu Wenxiang, a helmsman for Nanjing Ocean Shipping in Jiangsu province, added: "I hope my salary may see a big raise after it takes effect in China."

However, Ruan in Shanghai warned that even when the convention comes into force, the effects will not be seen immediately.

"It will still take time for the convention to fully take effect. It contains articles that give flexibility to ILO members, so they can keep abreast of its standards when carrying it out over time."

wangxiaodong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/28/2012 page7)