Resources on Shipping, ports, fisheries, and inland waterways sector

  1. Closing message at the National Conference of Employers in the Philippines

    28 June 2023

    ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo addressed the National Conference of Employers on Human-Centred Transitions for a Just and Sustainable Workplace held in Manila.

  2. Keynote address at the Shaping the Future of Shipping – Seafarer 2050 Summit

    26 June 2023

    ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlighted at the Shaping the Future of Shipping – Seafarer 2050 Summit the need for a new global social contract, including for the global maritime industry.

  3. Decent work for seafarers: Programme fact sheet

    27 November 2014

    The Philippines ranks as the top supplier of seafarers in the world, particularly ratings. In 2006, the maritime constituents of the ILO adopted the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006). The lack of standard laws, contracts, and collective bargaining agreements tend to be the main source of protection for seafarers but organized seafarers only cover 17-20 per cent of the maritime labour force since they are regularly contract workers.

  4. Milestone ratifications of seafarers’ labour rights charter

    20 August 2012

    The ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention has now been ratified by 30 countries, meaning it will go into effect in a year’s time. The charter sets out the labour rights of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers.

  5. On course for decent shipping

    20 August 2012

    When the ILO adopted the Maritime Labour Convention in February 2006, Director-General Juan Somavia called it “making labour history”. Following the ratification by Russia and the Philippines, the Convention will come into force in 12 months’ time. What does this mean for the world’s 1.2 million seafarers?

  6. Philippines ratification marks global milestone for decent work for seafarers

    20 August 2012

    The Philippines is the 30th Member to have its ratification registered and join the group of the “first 30” ILO countries to demonstrate their commitment to ensuring decent work for seafarer and a level playing field for quality shipowners.

  7. Desk review of research on HIV/AIDS in the world of work

    31 July 2012

    This desk review was conducted by ILO/AIDS as part of the Inter-Agency Task Team on HIV workplace policies/programmes and private sector engagement (IATT/WPPS). It is based primarily on the research documents shared by the IATT members, covering vulnerability studies, stigma and discrimination studies, impact and cost-benefit studies.