Annex III Resolution concerning the ILO minimum wage for able seamen

Having considered the report prepared by the International Labour Office on Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Recommendation, 1958 (No. 109): Updating of the minimum basic wage of able seamen,

Having noted that the Joint Maritime Commission at its 26th Session in 1991 considered the wage figures of US$335 and £196 as of October 1991 and US$356 and £208 as of 25 October 1992 (with US$356 as of 25 October 1991 to be the base for recalculation purposes),

Having noted the changes since the 26th Session as to which countries and areas are now either major maritime nations or major suppliers of seafarers, as described in the Office report;

The Joint Maritime Commission of the International Labour Organization:

1. Considers the list of 41 countries and areas contained in the Office report (see Appendix I) as currently representative of major maritime nations or major suppliers of seafarers; and that the minimum wage figure contained in the Recommendation should be expressed in terms of US dollars only.

2. Considers also that the formula used to revise the minimum wage should otherwise be maintained as it pertains to currency exchange rates, consumer prices and weighting, and that productivity should also be addressed when the JMC finds this fact relevant.

3. Considers furthermore that in view of the above factors, the figure of US$385 should be regarded as the equivalent, as of 9 December 1994, of the wage figures contained in the Recommendation.

4. Urges that, in giving effect to the Recommendation, Members should apply, in substitution for the wage figures contained therein, the figure of US$385, with effect from 1 January 1995.

5. Requests the Governing Body of the International Labour Office to ask the Director-General to convene the 28th Session of the Joint Maritime Commission for the purpose of updating the minimum basic wage of able seamen, concurrent with a Maritime Session of the International Labour Conference, to be held in Geneva in January 1996.

6. Agrees that US$385 as of 1 January 1995 should be used as the base for recalculation purposes at the meeting of the Joint Maritime Commission proposed in point 5 above and that any revised minimum wage recommended by the Commission should be effective from 1 January 1997.

7. Reminds the Governing Body of the earlier proposal of the JMC that a small bipartite wage committee composed of six Shipowner representatives and six Seafarer representatives be convened every alternate year between sessions of the Joint Maritime Commission for the purpose of updating the ILO minimum wage figure for able seamen in accordance with the prescribed formula, it being understood that such a committee should not be convened in the year before a Joint Maritime Commission session.

Annex IV Major maritime countries and areas, with more than 2 million gross tons, December 1995

Annex V Major suppliers of seafarers, with more than 10,000 seafarers, 1995