Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Minimum Age (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 112) - Liberia (Ratification: 1960)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received for the seventh consecutive time. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

The Committee notes that, under section 291 of the Liberian Maritime Law – Title II of the Liberian Code of Laws – a vessel means any vessel registered under Title II and a fishing vessel means a vessel used for catching fish, whales, seals, walrus and other living creatures at sea. Under section 326(1) of the Maritime Law the minimum age for admission to employment or work on Liberian vessels is 15 years.

The Committee notes that vessels eligible to be documented include, by virtue of section 51 of the Maritime Law, inter alia, vessels of 20 net tons and over engaged in coastwise trade between ports of Liberia or between those of Liberia and other West African nations; and seagoing vessels of more than 1,600 tons engaged in foreign trade. The Committee recalls in this connection that the Convention applies to fishing vessels which under the terms of Article 1 of the Convention include all ships and boats, of any nature whatsoever, whether publicly or privately owned which are engaged in maritime fishing in salt waters. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on measures taken or envisaged to apply the Convention to all fishing vessels coming under the purview of Article 1 of the Convention.

The Committee also draws the Government’s attention to the new Work in Fishing Convention, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 96th Session (June 2007), which revises and updates most ILO instruments on fishing, including Convention No. 112. The Committee requests the Government to give all due attention to this new comprehensive instrument on the working and living conditions of fishers and to keep the Office informed of any decision that it may take with a view to its eventual ratification.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.