Maritime - Shipping

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. 

The Sectoral Policies Department (SECTOR)

• sector@ilo.org