Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Liberia

Minimum Age (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 112) (Ratification: 1960)
Medical Examination (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 113) (Ratification: 1960)
Fishermen's Articles of Agreement Convention, 1959 (No. 114) (Ratification: 1960)

The Committee notes the Government’s reports on the application of Conventions Nos 112, 113, and 114 on the fishing sector. In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of the ratified Conventions on fishing, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine them together.

The Committee requested the Government to clarify whether the Liberian Maritime Law, RLM 107 and the Liberian Maritime Regulations, RLM-108 were applicable to fishers. The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not provided the clarification requested in this regard. Therefore, recalling that for numerous years the Government has been requested to provide information on the applicability of existing legislation to fishers, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the measures adopted to give full effect to the provisions of the Conventions, taking into account the points raised in previous observations.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee notes with deep concern the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the protection of fishers’ rights as laid out in the Conventions. In this regard, the Committee refers to the resolution adopted by the Governing Body in its 340th Session (GB.340/Resolution) concerning maritime labour issues and COVID-19 disease, which calls on Member States to take measures to address the adverse impacts of the pandemic on fishers’ rights, and requests the Government to provide information in its next report on any temporary measures adopted in this regard, their duration and their impact on fishers’ rights.