High-level Tripartite Working Group on Maritime Labour Standards (first meeting)

At its 29th Session (Geneva, 22-26 January 2001), the Joint Maritime Commission of the ILO adopted a Resolution concerning the review of relevant ILO instruments which called for the development of a new "framework" Convention which would consolidate as far as possible and update the wide range of existing maritime labour standards into a single, simpler instrument. The agreement between Shipowners and Seafarers which led to this resolution has become known as the "Geneva Accord".

After considering the report of the Commission, the Governing Body of the ILO decided, inter alia, to establish a High-level Tripartite Working Group on Maritime Labour Standards. The Working Group, composed of 12 Government representatives, 12 Shipowners' representatives and 12 Seafarers' representatives as well as Government, Employers' and Workers' observers, will assist with the work of developing the proposed new instrument.

The first meeting was held at ILO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland from 17 to 21 December 2001.

Two documents were prepared by the International Labour Office to be used as the basis for discussion: a Briefing Note (pdf, 248k) and a Working Paper (pdf, 78k). A Final Report (pdf, 175k) is also available.