All news: seafarer

Refine results
Date of publication
Global maritime leaders unite in a call to protect seafarers from criminalization
Representatives from from IMO, ILO, ICS, ITF speaking in row with a UN logo background

IMO / ILO / ICS / ITF

Global maritime leaders unite in a call to protect seafarers from criminalization

Global maritime leaders from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reaffirm commitment to fair...

Belgium ratifies the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention and the Work in Fishing Convention
Mr. David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Economy and Agriculture of Belgium, presents the instruments of ratification of Conventions Nos. 131 and 188 to the ILO Director-General, Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo. 11 June 2025.

International Labour Standards

Belgium ratifies the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention and the Work in Fishing Convention

Belgium becomes the 56th country to ratify Convention No. 131 and the 24th country to ratify Convention No. 188.

Seafarers’ conditions set to improve after shipping industry adopts amendments to Maritime Labour Convention, 2006
Fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee

Seafarers’ conditions set to improve after shipping industry adopts amendments to Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

Amendments will enhance the living and working conditions of seafarers.

Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers reaches agreement to increase seafarer minimum wage following negotiations
Group photo of the 2025 Subcommittee wages of seafarers of the JMC

Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers reaches agreement to increase seafarer minimum wage following negotiations

Through social dialogue, Shipowners’ and Seafarers’ representatives agreed to gradually raise the minimum wage over the course of the next three years

Pakistan ratifies three International Labour Standards
Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, hands over the instruments of ratification for three key ILO Conventions to ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo.

Pakistan ratifies three International Labour Standards

President Asif Ali Zardari has approved Pakistan’s ratification of three key ILO instruments to strengthen workers' rights, combat forced labour, enhance seafarers' protections and improve labour data collection.

Sri Lanka’s next generation of women seafarers are ready to set sail

Video

Sri Lanka’s next generation of women seafarers are ready to set sail

Vulnerable and marginalized Sri Lankan youth, including women, are learning how to become seafarers, thanks to an ILO work-based learning programme, funded by the Government of Japan.

Barbados supports the welfare of seafarers by ratifying the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention
Ratification ceremony of Convention No. 185, 3 March 2025: Mr Matthew Wilson, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva and Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO.

Barbados supports the welfare of seafarers by ratifying the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention

Barbados becomes the 40th ILO member State to ratify Convention No. 185.

ILO and International Seabed Authority sign landmark agreement to protect human life and promote decent work
Fisherman on a bottom trawl

ILO and International Seabed Authority sign landmark agreement to protect human life and promote decent work

The agreement between the two agencies highlights a shared commitment to workers’ rights, as interest in seabed activities and resources continues to grow.

ILO’s Ship to Shore Rights Southeast Asia Programme extends its programme in Indonesia for another four years
An ongoing meeting with two speakers sitting on the front and the participant sitting on the side.

ILO’s Ship to Shore Rights Southeast Asia Programme extends its programme in Indonesia for another four years

The ILO’s Ship to Shore Rights Southeast Asia Programme organizes its last NPAC meeting and announces a programme extension for another four years.

Ecuadorian inspectors and authorities train to identify forced labour on fishing vessels
Grupo de personas sonrientes sosteniendo un diploma junto con los banners de OIT "Pesca Justa" y el Ministerio de Trabajo del Ecuador

Ecuadorian inspectors and authorities train to identify forced labour on fishing vessels

ILO and its partners, Cornell University and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), together with their counterparts in Ecuador – Ministry of Labour, the Vice-Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries, the National Directorate of Aquatic...

ILO hosts virtual validation workshop on the future of seafarers in Pacific Island Countries
Fisherman unloading catch, Suva, Fiji

News item

ILO hosts virtual validation workshop on the future of seafarers in Pacific Island Countries

Ghana ratifies the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
Flag of Ghana

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

Ghana becomes the 22nd country to ratify this Convention.

Guinea-Bissau ratifies the Maritime Labour Convention
Flag of Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau ratifies the Maritime Labour Convention

Guinea Bissau is the 108th Member State of the ILO to have ratified the Convention.

New important set of amendments to the MLC, 2006 will enter into force on 23 December 2024
Natural Beauty@Sea by Asif Ahmed Pasha, 2023

New important set of amendments to the MLC, 2006 will enter into force on 23 December 2024

These amendments aim at further improving working and living conditions at sea and address some of the key challenges faced by seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Breaking waves and gender barriers in Sri Lanka maritime sector
Asitha Seneviratne

Impact story

Breaking waves and gender barriers in Sri Lanka maritime sector

A partnership between the International Labour Organization and Sri Lanka’s Mahapola Port and Martime Academy has led to Nayomi Amarasinghe becoming one of the few female seafarers in the country.

Egypt joins international efforts to protect seafarers’ rights
Ratification ceremony of the MLC, 2006 on 6 June 2024: H.E. Hassan Shehata, Labour Minister of Egypt, and Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO

Egypt joins international efforts to protect seafarers’ rights

Egypt is the 107th Member State of the ILO to have ratified the MLC, 2006.

Comoros joins international efforts to protect seafarers’ rights
Flag of Comoros

Maritime Labour Convention

Comoros joins international efforts to protect seafarers’ rights

Comoros is the 106th Member State of the ILO to have ratified the MLC, 2006

Global register on seafarer deaths
A view of the Chinese ship the "Y M Orchid" leaving the harbour. Port of Genoa, Italy

Maritime Labour Convention

Global register on seafarer deaths

Held the VI Tripartite Seminar on the application in Spain of the Maritime Labor Convention MLC, 2006
Foto general de los participantes durante el Seminario Tripartito sobre la aplicación en España del Convenio sobre trabajo marítimo MLC, 2006, abril de 2024

Held the VI Tripartite Seminar on the application in Spain of the Maritime Labor Convention MLC, 2006

As a continuation of the tripartite seminars initiated in 2014 to carry out the monitoring of the application in Spain of the Maritime Labor Convention known as MLC, 2006, and 10 years after its entry into force, the VI meeting was held at the ILO...

Indonesia establishes the first MRC for migrant fishing vessel crews in Pemalang Regency
UPSCALED Indonesia establishes the first MRC for migrant fishing vessel crews in Pemalang Regency

Indonesia establishes the first MRC for migrant fishing vessel crews in Pemalang Regency

The ILO supports the establishment of the first Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) for Indonesian migrant fishing vessel crews to ensure their labour rights and to be free from exploitation and forced labour at sea.