All news: seafarer

Labour migration

Turning commitments into systems: KP2MI study visit to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers

Indonesia draws on Philippine experience to strengthen protection systems for migrant fishers.

International Labour Standards

Cuba joins efforts to promote decent work at sea

Cuba is the 113th Member State of the ILO to have ratified the Maritime Labour Convention

Indonesia ratifies the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)

Indonesia becomes the 27th ILO Member State to ratify Convention No. 188

Podcast

The implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention in times of crisis

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is considered a model of strong and effective cooperation between seafarers and the global shipping industry, and its implementation is all the more crucial...

International Labour Standards

Iceland ratifies Conventions Nos 188 and 191

Ratification marks an important step for the protection of fishers and for the recognition of a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work.

Officers of the ILO Committee on maritime labour urge immediate action to protect seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz

Representatives of governments, seafarers and shipowners call on Member States to protect seafarers at a time of heightened violence at sea in the Middle East region.

Op-ed

Waiting for Godot: The long wait for Indonesian fishers' rights at sea

Albert Bonasahat, ILO National Project Coordinator for the Ship to Shore Rights South‑East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy Project, highlights that as the 2026 ratification deadline for ILO Convention 188 approaches, the...

ILO/ICS/ITF

20 years of advancing social dialogue and decent work at sea

Joint statement from the International Labour Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, and International Transport Workers’ Federation on the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention.

IMO–ILO joint news release

Maritime Labour Convention at 20: The ILO and the International Maritime Organization reaffirm commitment to decent work at sea

Maritime Labour Convention milestone marked with renewed call for fair and sustainable global shipping, protecting seafarers’ rights.

Solomon Islands ratifies the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006) and the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)

Solomon Islands is the 112nd Member State of the ILO to ratify the MLC, 2006 and the 25th to ratify Convention No. 188.

Safe seas, fair work: Indonesia’s push for ratification of ILO Convention No. 188 on Work in Fishing

The provincial meeting in Batam, Riau Islands Province, reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to safe migration practices in fishing.

Angola joins the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended

Angola became the 111th ILO Member State to ratify the Convention.

Press release

Indonesia advances toward ratifying ILO Convention No. 188 to safeguard fishers’ labour rights by 2026

The Ministry of Manpower, with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the labour rights of both domestic and migrant fishers.

Indonesia's North Kalimantan promotes safer working conditions for fishers

ILO-led training empowers labour and fishing inspectors in North Kalimantan, Indonesia to improve occupational safety and health in the fisheries sector.

Central Java shares good practices with North Kalimantan to strengthen labour standards in the Indonesia's fishing sector

Knowledge exchange between provincial joint inspection teams highlights collaborative efforts to promote labour rights and decent work for fishers across Indonesia.

Press release

North Kalimantan Province in Indonesia launches a Joint Inspection Team to strengthen labour standards in the fishing sector

The newly launched Joint Inspection Team strengthens the fishing industry and offers improved protection for workers, especially those employed onboard fishing vessels.

Maritime Labour Convention

Maritime leaders unite in Manila for seafarers’ rights

The Philippines hosted a landmark international conference culminating in the Manila Declaration, a global call to uphold the dignity, safety, and rights of over two million seafarers.

Sectoral labour data and statistics

ILO integrates sectoral labour statistics to strengthen access to world of work data

Updated sectoral webpages now combine data from ILOSTAT with key resources on labour standards, policies, and research across major industries — helping constituents, researchers, and policymakers make evidence-based decisions to promote decent work.

Fishing sector

Global momentum builds to strengthen fishers’ rights at UN Ocean Conference

On World Oceans Day, Côte d’Ivoire became the latest country to ratify the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), marking a major step toward advancing labour rights at sea.

ILOSTAT blog

New data reveals leading causes of seafarer deaths in 2023

A first-ever global data collection on seafarer fatalities offers insight into the main causes of death at sea, revealing critical safety and health risks. With data from 51 countries, this analysis underscores the urgent need for stronger reporting...