The International Labour Organization and the International Maritime Organization have reaffirmed their commitment to decent work at sea as they mark the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, adopted on 23 February 2006.
The global treaty was designed to improve seafarers’ working and living conditions and promote fair competition within the international shipping industry.
Announcing the milestone, both organisations said the convention — adopted by the International Maritime Labour Conference through an unprecedented agreement involving governments, shipowners, and seafarers — established a comprehensive global framework regulating labour conditions in one of the world’s most international industries.
Over the past two decades, they noted, the convention has delivered tangible improvements for millions of seafarers worldwide. It sets clear and enforceable minimum standards covering employment conditions, wages, hours of work and rest, accommodation, health protection, medical care, welfare, and social security.
They added that the convention is backed by robust compliance and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that its standards are upheld across the industry.
According to the organisations, the agreement has also created a level playing field for responsible shipowners by curbing unfair competition linked to substandard labour practices. This, they said, has strengthened the safety, efficiency, and resilience of maritime transport, a critical pillar of the global economy.
Reflecting on recent global events, the organisations said the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the essential role of seafarers as key workers who ensured the uninterrupted movement of vital goods worldwide. The crisis, they added, highlighted the importance of fully implementing and enforcing the protections enshrined in the convention.
Despite the progress achieved, they acknowledged persistent challenges, including unlawful attacks on ships, the abandonment and criminalisation of seafarers, fatigue, unpaid wages, and the denial of shore leave.
They emphasised that the Maritime Labour Convention was conceived as a living instrument, capable of adapting to emerging and ongoing challenges through dialogue among governments, employers, and workers.
The Special Tripartite Committee responsible for reviewing the convention, they said, has demonstrated its capacity to adopt necessary amendments to ensure the agreement remains responsive to evolving realities and continues to advance seafarers’ rights.
Reaffirming its position, the International Labour Organization pledged continued commitment to the effective global implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, with the support of the International Maritime Organization. Both organisations urged states and industry stakeholders to uphold the convention’s standards, strengthen compliance, and collaborate to protect seafarers’ rights while supporting a fair and sustainable future for global shipping.
