Shipping - ILO
Activities
 Because
of the unique character of seafaring, most maritime countries have special
laws and regulations covering this occupation. Consequently, the ILO,
since its founding, has had special "machinery" for seafarers. The machinery
includes the Joint Maritime Commission,
which advises the Governing Body on maritime issues,
and special Maritime Sessions of the International Labour Conference (ILC) which
focus solely on the preparation and adoption of Maritime
Labour Standards. The most recent Maritime Session of the International Labour
Conference adopted the Maritime
Labour Convention, 2006.
Within the International Labour Office, maritime issues are dealt with by the
Sectoral Activities Department (SECTOR). The main focus of ILO's maritime programme
concerns the promotion of the maritime labour standards. This is done using all
of the ILO's means of action. The ILO's work concerning seafarers has also resulted
in the adoption of codes of practice, guidelines and reports which address seafarers'
issues.
The ILO cooperates with other United Nations system agencies with an interest
in the maritime field, such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in
London and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. There is close contact
with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and with regional UN offices.
Providing information and assistance to member States on ILO maritime standards
and the preparation of related national laws and regulations will continue to
be given priority. Both the labour and shipping (or transport) ministries of the
countries concerned should be involved in the implementation of the ILO maritime
labour standards.
Normative Activties
 Consolidation
of Maritime Labour Standards
The International Labour Office launched a major consolidation of more
than 60 maritime labour instruments into a single instrument in line
with recommendations made by the ILO Joint Maritime Commission in January 2001
(The Geneva Accord) and approved by the ILO Governing Body at its 280th Session
(March 2001). The objective of the consolidation was to bring the system of
protection
contained in existing standards closer to the workers concerned, in a form that
was consistent with this rapidly developing, globalized sector and to improve
the
applicability of the system so that shipowners and governments interested in
providing decent conditions of work do not have to bear an unequal burden in
ensuring such
protection. The aim of the consolidation was for greater consistency and clarity,
more rapid adaptability and general applicability. On 23 February 2006, the 94th
International Labour Conference (Maritime) adopted the Maritime
Labour Convention, 2006.
For additional information on the ILO's work in
this area, please visit the webpage on the consolidation
of ILO Maritime Labour Standards.
Seafarers' Identity Documents
One of the issues considered crucial for improving maritime security is ensuring
that seafarers have documents enabling their “positive verifiable identification”.
Many countries will be requiring such identification before they are prepared
to grant special facilities enabling seafarers to carry out the international
professional moves necessary for their work and for their well-being. The ILO
Governing Body accordingly decided to complement action being taken in the framework
of the IMO by placing an urgent item on the agenda of the 91st Session (June 2003)
of the International Labour Conference concerning improved security of seafarers’
identification with a view to the revision of the Seafarers’ Identity Documents
Convention, 1958 (No.108). On 9 February 2005, the Seafarers'
Identity Documents
Convention (Revised), 2003, (No. 185) Convention entered into force.
For additional information on the ILO's work in this area, please visit the
webpage on seafarer's identity documents.
Standing Bodies
Joint Maritime Commission
The Joint Maritime Commission (JMC) is
composed of representatives of shipowners and seafarers. This bipartite standing
body provides advice to
the Governing Body on maritime questions including standard setting for the
shipping industry. The last meeting of the JMC was be held on 23 February
2006. The agenda of this meeting was to examine follow-up to the consolidated
maritime labour Convention.
Wages of seafarers
Among the JMC's specific attributes is the updating of the minumum basic
wage figure for able seamen in accordance with the Seafarers'
Wages, Hours of Work
and
Manning of Ships Recommendation, 1996 (No. 187). This is the only statutory
international wage fixing mechanism. The Joint Maritime Commission's Subcommittee
on Wages of Seafarers' has been established to regularly update this wage
figure.
Joint ILO/IMO Activities
Joint IMO/ILO Ad Hoc Expert Working Group on Liability and
Compensation
regarding Claims for Death, Personal Injury and Abandonment of Seafarers
The Joint IMO/ILO Ad Hoc Expert Working Group was established in 1998, to consider
questions of liability and compensation in connection with crew claims, to ensure,
through the operation of appropriate international instruments, the rights of
crew members/seafarers to adequate compensation for loss of life, personal injury
and abandonment, and to formulate suitable recommendations to the IMO Legal Committee
and the Governing Body of the ILO, as appropriate. The Reports
of this Working Group (including draft resolutions and guidelines) are available
online.
Joint IMO/ILO Ad Hoc Expert Working Group on the Fair Treatment of
Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident
At its 290th Session (June 2004), the Governing Body approved the establishment
of a Joint ILO/IMO Ad Hoc Expert Working Group on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers
in the Event of a Maritime Accident. According to its terms of reference, the
Joint Working Group should prepare suitable recommendations for consideration
by the IMO Legal Committee and the ILO Governing Body, including draft guidelines
on the fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime incident. The first
session of the Joint Working Group took place from 17-19 January 2005. The report
to the Governing Body on this session is available.
Other issues
Working and living conditions of seafarers
in international registers
The ILO conducted a survey of living
and working conditions of seafarers on international registers. In addition,
a Questionnaire on international
registers: Living and working conditions of seafarers was sent to Ministries
of Labour, maritime administrations, shipowners' organizations and seafarers'
organizations in countries with maritime activities. The results were used to
prepare an ILO report for
the Meeting of Experts on Working and Living Conditions of Seafarers on
board Ships in International Registers (Geneva, 6-8 May 2002). The following documents
from that meeting are available:
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