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

  1. ILO standards improve maritime workers' protection

    25 September 2022

    Millions of people depend directly on the sea for their livelihoods and hundreds of millions more rely on them for food. Safeguarding the rights and conditions of seafarers has been part of the ILO’s work for more than 100 years. In June 2022, Member States adopted important amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 - which is widely known as the “seafarers’ bill of rights”.

  2. A fair future for seafarers key to shipping’s recovery

    25 June 2021

    Hundreds of thousands of seafarers are still unable to join and leave their vessels due to restrictions put in place to contain COVID-19. It is critical to respect the rights of seafarers, as set out in maritime law, and ensure seafarers have a fair and sustainable future. #FairFuture4Seafarers

  3. End the plight of stranded seafarers

    24 September 2020

    COVID-19 containment measures, travel restrictions and border closures, continue to make it increasingly difficult for ship operators worldwide to conduct required crew changes. The ILO, shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations and UN bodies call to end the plight of seafarers and to fully respect seafarers’ rights.

  4. Sectoral impact: COVID-19 creates rough seas for global shipping and fishing

    12 May 2020

    The COVID-19 crisis is affecting the personal safety and health of seafarers and fishers, their conditions of work and their ability to join and leave their vessels. This has had a negative impact on their capacity to perform their key role in ensuring transport by sea, serving passengers and harvesting seafood. With the shipping sector carrying 90 per cent of global trade and the maritime fishing sector being a major supplier of food and livelihoods, the impact of #COVID-19 on employment in these sectors is therefore substantial.

  5. Abandoned, but not alone

    07 April 2014

    ILO News visits the crew of the B Ladybug, who have been stranded off the coast of Malta for almost a year after their ship owner went bankrupt. The provision of financial security for abandoned seafarers and the issue of compensation are two key topics under discussion this week at the ILO.

  6. Abandoned seafarers top of agenda at maritime meeting

    07 March 2014

    More than 300 maritime representatives from all regions of the world are discussing amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention to cover the consequences of abandonment, and contractual claims for death, injury or disability due to occupational illness or hazard.

  7. Statement from ILO Director-General Guy Ryder on the coming into force of the Maritime Labour Convention

    20 August 2013

    ILO Director-General Guy Ryder marks the coming into force of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. This historic convention provides protection for the world's 1.5 million seafarers under a clear and consolidated set of international labour standards. (Closed captions available)

  8. Statement from ILO's Director of the Department of Labour Standards, Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, on the coming into force of the MLC 2006

    20 August 2013

    ILO's Director of the Department of Labour Standards, Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, makes a statement on the coming-into-force of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The MLC, 2006 was adopted by government, employer and worker representatives at a special ILO International Labour Conference in February 2006 and provides a clear and comprehensive set of international standards for the shipping sector, the world's first genuinely global industry. (Closed captions available)

  9. Taking Decent Work on Board

    21 August 2012

    When the ILO adopted the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) in February 2006, Director-General Juan Somavia called it "making labour history" for seafarers around the world.The MLC, 2006, will come into force 12 months after ratification by 30 ILO member States, representing a total share of at least 33 percent of the world's gross tonnage (gt) of ships. The Convention promotes a strong enforcement regime to ensure that labour standards are enforced as effectively as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions on ship safety, security and environmental protection (SOLAS/MARPOL) by both flag and port States.

  10. Getting On Board with the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

    07 April 2011

    The ILO's Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 provides comprehensive rights and protection at work for the world's more than 1.2 million seafarers. The Convention aims to achieve both decent work for seafarers and secure economic interests in fair competition for ship-owners.