Photo of a transatlantic liner next to a smaller vessel in the water.
Security drill on the British transatlantic liner the "Queen Mary 2". Port of Southampton, UK. © Marcel Crozet / ILO

The ILO, since its founding, has adopted many international labour standards for seafarers. In 2006, the 94th Maritime Session of the International Labour Conference adopted the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The Convention consolidated nearly all earlier ILO standards for seafarers into a single Convention. The MLC, 2006, entered into force on 20 August 2013, establishing minimum working and living standards for all seafarers on those ships. The other key ILO standard for seafarers is the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185), which provides a new seafarers' identity document that enhances maritime security while facilitating shore leave and the professional movement of seafarers. The main focus of ILO's maritime programme is the promotion of these standards using all of the ILO's means of action and through the publication of codes of practice, guidelines and reports addressing seafarers' labour issues. The Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers of the Joint Maritime Commission periodically meets to updating of the recommended minimum monthly basic pay or wage figure for able seafarers, as provided for in the MLC, 2006. The Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC, 2006, among other things, considers amendments to the Convention and keeps it under continuous review. 

Committees and Joint meetings

Events

Second Meeting of the Joint ILO–IMO Tripartite Working Group to Identify and Address Seafarers’ Issues and the Human Element

Second Meeting of the Joint ILO–IMO Tripartite Working Group to Identify and Address Seafarers’ Issues and the Human Element

Joint ILO–IMO meeting to adopt guidelines for Medical Examination of Fishers/Fishing Vessel Personnel

Joint ILO–IMO meeting to adopt guidelines for Medical Examination of Fishers/Fishing Vessel Personnel

Technical meeting on decent and sustainable work in the inland waterways sector

Technical meeting on decent and sustainable work in the inland waterways sector

News

ILO and IMO recommend new steps against shipboard violence, harassment, and sexual assault
Member of the crew aboard the Stavros S Niarchos. Port of Southampton.

Maritime sector

ILO and IMO recommend new steps against shipboard violence, harassment, and sexual assault

New conclusions and recommendations pave the way to decent work in the inland waterways sector
Placeholder image

Inland waterways sector

New conclusions and recommendations pave the way to decent work in the inland waterways sector

Poland marks the end of the ILO centenary year with the ratification of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
Placeholder image

Fishers

Poland marks the end of the ILO centenary year with the ratification of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)

All publications

Decent and sustainable work in the inland waterways sector

Decent and sustainable work in the inland waterways sector

Challenges and opportunities to advance decent work in five countries and supply chains: A synthesis report

Challenges and opportunities to advance decent work in five countries and supply chains: A synthesis report

Information note on maritime labour issues and coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

Information note on maritime labour issues and coronavirus (COVID-19)