Legal Challenges in Protecting the Rights of Cruise Ship Crew at the Post COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Abstract

The unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has harmed the shipping industry, especially the cruise sector. During this period, the cruise crew, as a neglected subject, experienced great work, life and psychological pressures. However, many states, including China, do not pay enough attention to the legal protection of their rights. The legal literature on this issue is insufficient, and this paper attempts to fill the gap. This paper aims to give a legal suggestion for how to protect the legal rights of cruise crews in ways that are both responsible and effective in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. To achieve the goal, this paper adopts legal research methods to analyze the application of international conventions and Chinese laws and regulations. The paper discusses the legal limitations on the rights’ protection of cruise crews in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the research results are legal considerations and suggestions for the protection of the cruise crew. In addition to taking reasonable measures to reduce the impact of the epidemic on cruise crews, the legitimate rights and interests of all cruise crew individuals should be realized as much as possible under existing international conventions and domestic laws. It is important for states to further improve crew and labour legislation and strengthen international cooperation to deal with the impact of the global pandemics on the cruise.