Online on-board complaint form released by Dutch Authorities (MLC 2006)

The Dutch Authorities have launched an online Maritime Labour Complaint Form for seafarers, on the day of the entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 on 20 August, 2013.
The Netherlands is committed to ensuring that seafarers who serve on Dutch-flag ships have decent working and living conditions, a safe and secure workplace and fair terms of employment. Seafarers are encouraged to use the ship’s standard on-board complaint procedures, as they were released on the website of the Dutch Authorities (www.ilent.nl) and in the MLC-2006 Document Generator (www-mlc-2006.eu) in order to resolve complaints at the earliest possible opportunity in accordance with MLC 2006. Seafarers on foreign ships in Dutch harbours or seafarers on ships flying the Dutch flag can use this online form to lodge a complaint (http://www.ilent.nl/contact/melden/index.aspx) .
However, this path should only be followed if the standard on-board complaint procedures have been followed or if there are pressing reasons not to follow them. The complaint must be lodged either in the Dutch or in the English language and the case to which it applies should not be older than 6 months.
The Dutch Authorities will only follow up on the complaint if it has to do with one of the following subjects:
-    Minimum age
-    Medical certification
-    Qualifications of the seafarer
-    SEA for seafarers
-    A recruitment agency
-    Hours of work and rest
-    Manning levels and shipboard working arrangements
-    Accommodation
-    Recreational facilities
-    Food and Catering
-    Health and safety
-    On-board complaint procedure
-    Payment of wages
-    Human rights and workmen’s rights
-    Only for ships under the Dutch flag: the captain has given an unjustified order.
Note to editor:
Rood Boven Groen is an independent consultancy, providing advice and services to clients in the maritime industry and specialises in the development and maintenance of ship management systems, such as ISM, ISPS and MLC-2006.
Because the staff of Rood Boven Groen works regularly at sea, they can offer practical solutions for the implementation of these management systems on board.
The staff has received specific MLC-2006 training.
Source: The Dutch Authorities