An Assessment of Tanzania’s Status of Application of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 Provisions on Fair Treatment and Repatriation of Seafarers

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) provides a comprehensive framework to safeguard seafarers’ rights, including fair treatment and repatriation, while promoting decent working and living conditions in the maritime industry. Tanzania ratified the Convention on 22 July 2012, committing to harmonize its domestic legislation with international standards. Despite this commitment, questions remain regarding the practical application and enforcement of seafarers’ rights in the country, highlighting the need for a systematic evaluation of implementation.

To address this, the study adopted a qualitative approach, combining structured interviews with key maritime stakeholders, documentary analysis of relevant legislation and institutional reports, and doctrinal analysis of Tanzanian law and the MLC, 2006. Key instruments examined include the Merchant Shipping Act, 2003, and the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Regulations, 2017, which guide the implementation of repatriation, fair treatment, and flag and port State control.

Analysis of the data reveals that Tanzania has made notable progress in establishing legal and institutional mechanisms to protect seafarers’ rights. Comparative analysis with other maritime States further highlights the importance of continuous capacity building, stakeholder awareness, and inter-agency coordination, while identifying national best practices that can guide enforcement that is more effective. These findings underscore the areas in which Tanzania’s maritime labour framework is strong and those requiring further attention.

Building on these insights, this article accesses the implementation of the MLC, 2006, in Tanzania to evaluate how effectively international maritime labour standards have been translated into national best practice. The goal of the research is to determine whether existing legal and institutional frameworks adequately protect seafarers’ rights, particularly the rights to repatriation and fair treatment, and to generate evidence-based insights for policy formulation, legal reform, and administrative action. The article contributes to academic discourse, informs national policy and legal reforms, and offers practical recommendations to strengthen the protection of seafarers’ rights under both international and domestic law.