China promulgated on Monday a new code to protect its 1.5 million sailors.

The Ministry of Communications said that the country's maritime safety administrations will be responsible for day-to-day management of the country's seamen, and that the new code will be implemented from Sept. 1.

Sailors in China need to register with maritime safety administrations to get their seaman's certificate. The certificate, complete with name and contact details, will serve as an ID card for sailors in foreign ports.

The code stipulates that labor contracts in the maritime industry must comply with domestic regulations and with international regulations that are applied locally.

It also covers work injury insurance, medical insurance, pension insurance and unemployment insurance.

The code stipulates that sailors are entitled to no less than five days paid leave for every two months working on board ship, as well as the country's official holidays.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2007)