Fishing: Standards & rights at work

Strategic objective: Promote and realize standards and fundamental rights and principles at work

International labour standards are legal instruments drawn up by the ILO's constituents (governments, employers and workers) and setting out basic principles and rights at work. International labour standards evolve from a growing international concern that action needs to be taken on a particular issue. These standards are used primarily as tools for governments that, in consultation with employers and workers, are seeking to draft and implement labour law and social policy in conformity with internationally accepted standards.

ILO fishing sector standards adopted in 2007

Work in the fishing sector has many special characteristics that require a specific international and national legislative response.  In 2007, the International Labour Conference adopted the Work in Fishing Convention (No. 188) and Work in Fishing Recommendation (No. 199). The Convention and Recommendation revise several existing ILO standards for the fishing sector and provide a comprehensive set of standards aimed at improving working conditions of fishers. Read more about Convention No. 188 and Recommendation No. 199 »

ILO fishing sector standards adopted prior to 2007

Conventions

• Minimum Age (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 112) (Ratifications)
• Medical Examination (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 113) (Ratifications)
• Fishermen's Articles of Agreement Convention, 1959 (No. 114) (Ratifications)
• Fishermen's Competency Certificates Convention, 1966 (No. 125) (not revised by C.188) (Ratifications)
• Accommodation of Crews (Fishermen) Convention, 1966 (No. 126) (Ratifications)

Recommendations

• Hours of Work (Fishing) Recommendation, 1920 (No. 7)
• Vocational Training (Fishermen) Recommendation, 1966 (No. 126) (not revised by R.199)

Other ILO “maritime” standards adopted prior to 2007 that are, or may be, relevant to the fishing sector

Several ILO Conventions and Recommendations concerning merchant ships or seafarers, adopted prior to 2007, are applicable to, or may under certain conditions be applicable to, fishing vessels or fishers.  However, these have been revised by the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), which, in Article 2, specifically excludes fishing vessels from its scope of application.  These issues, unless otherwise indicated, are now addressed in the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188).  However, C.185, see below, remains relevant to fishers.

Examples of maritime standards that refer to fishers/fishermen or fishing vessels

• Shipowners' Liability (Sick and Injured Seamen) Convention, 1936 (No. 55) (Ratifications)
• Sickness Insurance (Sea) Convention, 1936 (No. 56) (Ratifications)

Examples of maritime standards that may be applied, under certain conditions, to fishers/fisher or fishing vessels

• Seafarers' Welfare Convention, 1987 (No. 163) (revised by MLC) (Ratifications)
• Health Protection and Medical Care (Seafarers) Convention, 1987 (No. 164) (revised by MLC) (Ratifications)
• Repatriation of Seafarers Convention (Revised), 1987 (No. 166) (revised by MLC) (Ratifications)
• Labour Inspection (Seafarers) Convention, 1996 (No. 178) (Ratifications) and Recommendation (No. 185) (revised by MLC)
• Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Convention (No. 179) (Ratifications) and Recommendation, 1996 (No. 186) (revised by MLC)
• Seafarers' Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships Convention, 1996 (No. 180) (revised by MLC) (Ratifications)
• Seafarers' Wages, Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships Recommendation (No. 187) (revised by MLC)
• Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185) (Ratifications)

Views of the ILO Committee of experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations

The ILO's supervisory bodies -- the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations and the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards -- regularly examine the application of international labour standards in ILO member States.  Read comments made by the comments made by the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations.

Additional resources

• International Labour Standards website