完善福利体系 有效服务海员

Seafarers' welfare – becoming better organized

《2006年海事劳工公约》的一条明确规定正在全球范围内贯彻落实,那就是,要求海员＂获得岸上设施及服务,以确保其健康和福利。＂也许有人会说,其实《2006年海事劳工公约》（以下简称《公约》）规定的海员应享有的福利设施多年来一直都有,提供方既有宗教团体也有普通民间组织,他们在世界各地的许多港口都发挥着重要作用。但我们也必须认识到,这些设施的分布并不均衡,在许多海员经常靠泊的港口根本没有。

An explicit provision of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006(MLC 2006), now being globally implemented, requires seafarers to have 'access to shore-based facilities and services to secure their health and well-being'. It might be suggested that such facilitieshave been available for manyyears, thanks to the various welfare providers, both religious and secularin origin, which are a visible presencein many ports around the world. Butit must be recognised that such provisionsare patchy, with no facilities whatsoeverin many of the ports in whichseafarers may find themselves. The provisionindeed covers the full range, fromexcellent and comprehensive, with wellorganisedand properly funded facilities,through to some places where the visitingseafarer must stay aboard his shipand is not permitted to set foot ashore,welfare being effectively non-existent. 'Welfare', it will be apparent, comes in many different forms. The implementation of MLC 2006, however, moves its provision from an 'optional extra', that might be available because of the charity and voluntary efforts of the few, to an integral part of the whole seafaring 'package', within a regulatory framework.