Innovative new labour standards designed to improve conditions for roughly 30 million men and women working in the fishing sector worldwide were adopted by government, worker and employer delegates at the 96th International Labour Conference.

A new Convention, to be known as The Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No.188), will come into effect when it is ratified by 10 (including eight coastal nations) of the ILO’s 180 member States. An accompanying Recommendation (No. 199) was also adopted.

The new standards contain provisions designed to ensure that workers in the fishing sector have improved occupational safety and health and medical care at sea, and that sick or injured fishers receive care ashore, sufficient rest for their health and safety, the protection of a work agreement and the same social security protection as other workers. Its provisions are also aimed at ensuring that fishing vessels are constructed and maintained so that living conditions on board are suitable for the long periods often spent at sea by these workers.

The text of the Convention and the Recommendation is available in English and French.