Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Placing of Seamen Convention, 1920 (No. 9) - Mexico (Ratification: 1939)

1. The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending June 2002. With regard to Article 4 of the Convention, the Government states that there has been no change with regard to the matters raised in its 1998 observation. The Committee hopes that the Government will ensure the organization and maintenance of an efficient and adequate system of public employment offices for finding employment for seafarers without charge, in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention. In this respect, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on the number of applications for work received, the number of vacancies notified and seafarers placed in employment by the employment offices for seafarers, the measures which may have been taken to secure the coordination of employment services for seafarers at the national level, and statistical information on unemployment among seafarers (Article 10).

2. The Government recalls in its report the general provisions of the Federal Labour Act under which advisory committees for the placement of workers are established. The Committee once again notes that Article 5 of the Convention requires the establishment of a consultation procedure through committees consisting of an equal number of representatives of shipowners and seafarers and it hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to give effect to this provision of the Convention.

3. The Committee recalls that the Governing Body has invited States parties to Convention No. 9 to envisage the possibility of ratifying the Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Convention, 1996 (No. 179), the ratification of which would involve the immediate denunciation of Convention No. 9 (please see paragraphs 47-51 of document GB.273/LILS/4(Rev.1), November 1998). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on any consultations held on this matter.