Recognizing the Challenges of the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 (MLC 2006) in Iran

The fundamental objective of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, which is called the MLC 2006 Convention, is to ensure comprehensive worldwide protection of seafarers' rights worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify and rank the challenges in the implementation of the MLC 2006 Convention 2006 in Iran using DEMATEL (Decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) and hierarchy technique. The present study is a descriptive survey and practical in terms of objectives. In relation to the implementation of the provisions of the MLC 2006, only two articles, namely minimum age and medical care, are properly implemented in the country's ports. 14 challenges were identified, divided between the two groups of owners and seafarers (6 challenges) and the group of port and shipping organization and ship control and inspection officers (8 challenges). The result of the ranking of the group of ship owners and crew group shows that the low income level of ship owners and crew (0.170) is the most important challenge of this group. The least important factor in this group was the lack of safety culture with a score of 0.161. The ranking of the group of port and maritime organization and ship inspection and verification officers shows that the inspection and verification system for seafarers' certificates of competency (0.133) is the most important challenge of this group. The least important factor in this group was pressure on the organization from high-ranking officials of other organizations in the province, with a score of 0.067. The variable of increased costs due to the implementation of the Convention has the most interactions and the variable of low income level has the least interactions with other variables in this group. The variable of communication between the owners and the high level officials of the provincial port administration, the most effective factor and the most influential factor was low income level. The variable of control and inspection system for certificates of competency of seafarers has the strongest interaction and the variable of lack of financial support of the organization by the ship owners has the least interaction with other variables of this group. According to the research results, the lack of support of the organization by the control and inspection officers is the most effective variable to improve the performance of control and inspection officers in the area of implementation of the Convention. In addition, some factors were suggested to improve the quality of effective implementation of the MLC 2006 Convention in Iranian ports.