The ILO is preparing a new, comprehensive standard (a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation) on work in the fishing sector. This standard will revise seven ILO standards (five Conventions and two Recommendations) adopted in 1920, 1959 and 1966 that are specifically aimed at fishers. These five standards concern the issues of: minimum age, medical examination, articles of agreement, competency certificates, crew accommodation, hours of work and vocational training.

The standard may also address other issues, such as occupational safety and health and social security. The aim is to ensure "decent work" for fishers, within the context of the ILO’s primary goal of promoting opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.

At its 290th Session (June 2004), the Governing Body agreed that the ILO should hold a Tripartite Meeting of Experts on the Fishing Sector from 13 to 17 December 2004. The purpose of the Meeting, composed of six Government experts, six Employer experts and six Worker experts, is to review and formulate provisions on accommodation and deal with any other pending issues identified by the Committee on the Fishing Sector of the 92nd Session of the International Labour Conference (June 2004).

The Committee had also agreed that the Office should develop in the Convention a new Part concerning "Additional requirements for vessels of […] metres in length or more" in order to address the specific needs of fishers working on larger vessels. It was therefore agreed that the Meeting of Experts should review a document entitled Proposed provisions for accommodation, large fishing vessels and social security prepared by the Office and formulate provisions on these issues.

For further information on the ILO activities on fishing, you may visit the pages of the ILO Sectoral Activities Department on this subject.