Landmark changes at ILO but what will have to address challenges, stakeholder roles, and create expected timeline
Maritime News, Geneva : In a groundbreaking move hailed as a long-overdue recognition of maritime labour, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has formally recognised seafarers as ‘key workers’ under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). This milestone comes after intense negotiations in Geneva led by the Seafarers’ Group—represented by affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)—alongside governments and shipowners.
A Victory Anchored in Pandemic Lessons
The recognition marks the first time in any ILO instrument that seafarers are officially classified as key workers—a move driven by the COVID-19 crisis, during which seafarers were stranded at sea for months, often without pay, leave, or access to medical care.
“How seafarers were treated during the pandemic has not been forgotten,” said Mark Dickinson, Seafarers’ Group spokesperson and Vice Chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section.
“This new designation ensures that history is not repeated and that seafarers are treated with the dignity and priority they deserve.”
Major Reforms Secured for Seafarer Rights and Protections
Among 16 changes adopted to the MLC during the Special Tripartite Committee (STC) meetings, key improvements include:
- Mandatory recognition of seafarers as key workers, ensuring access to medical care, travel, and repatriation.
- Stronger shore leave regulations and health protocols to safeguard seafarer wellbeing.
- New provisions to prevent and eliminate violence and harassment onboard ships.
- Mandatory reference to Fair Treatment Guidelines, obligating governments to ensure proper handling in cases of maritime accidents or criminal allegations.
- Joint ILO-IMO review of work and rest hour regulations to address chronic fatigue in the industry.
“These reforms aren’t just regulatory—they’re human. They touch on dignity, safety, and justice,” said Dickinson.
“We’re ending the era where seafarers are the invisible workforce.”
Fighting Fatigue, Criminalisation, and Industry Abandonment
The ILO also passed resolutions to extend the mandate of the ILO-IMO Tripartite Working Group, ensuring continued focus on critical human-element issues, including:
- Seafarer abandonment
- Crew fatigue
- Unjust criminalisation of maritime professionals
“The maritime industry cannot thrive if it continues to ignore the people who power it,” said Fabrizio Barcellona, ITF Seafarers’ Section Coordinator.
“If we want to resolve the global seafarer recruitment and retention crisis, we must build careers that protect, respect, and value our seafarers.”
A Turning Tide for the Maritime Workforce
This landmark reform of the MLC sends a powerful message to the global shipping industry, flag states, and port nations: the era of treating seafarers as secondary stakeholders is over.
With these changes, the ILO has not only upheld the rights of seafarers but laid the foundation for a more resilient, ethical, and sustainable maritime industry—one where the human element is no longer overlooked but leads from the helm.
Challenges, stakeholder roles, and expected timeline
Here’s an insightful breakdown of the challenges, stakeholder roles, and expected timeline regarding the implementation and acceptance of the recent Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) reforms that recognise seafarers as “key workers”:
Who Will Face the Challenges?
1. Flag States (Countries where ships are registered)
- Challenge: Updating national maritime laws and labour frameworks to align with new MLC provisions.
- Risk: Some flag states may delay enforcement due to administrative bottlenecks or lack of political will.
2. Shipowners and Operators
- Challenge: Adjusting onboard policies and operations (shore leave, hours of rest, grievance redressal, medical care, etc.) to comply with the upgraded standards.
- Cost factor: Transitioning to new protocols may involve added operational costs, training investments, and audits.
3. Port States
- Challenge: Ensuring that foreign seafarers receive fair treatment, emergency medical aid, and leave access in port.
- Compliance burden: Ports with historically weak welfare policies may struggle with implementation.
4. Crewing Agencies and Manning Companies
- Challenge: Must adopt new contract standards, enforce anti-harassment norms, and ensure compliance with fair treatment guidelines.
- Accountability risk: Greater scrutiny of seafarer welfare may expose exploitative recruiters.
5. Seafarers
- Challenge: While reforms are in their favour, effective awareness, access to grievance mechanisms, and cultural stigma about reporting abuse or fatigue may delay the actual benefits reaching them.
What Are the Roles of Different Stakeholders?
| Stakeholder | Role in Implementation |
|---|---|
| ILO & IMO | Global monitoring, guidance, and review of compliance mechanisms through Tripartite Working Groups. |
| National Governments / Flag States | Incorporate changes into national law, update maritime safety codes, enforce fair treatment and grievance procedures. |
| Shipowners / Companies | Adapt onboard policies, provide crew with medical access, enforce work/rest hours, and implement anti-harassment training. |
| Unions / ITF / Seafarers’ Groups | Monitor compliance, educate seafarers about their rights, and advocate for enforcement. |
| Port Authorities | Facilitate access to shore leave, healthcare, and legal support in line with seafarers’ new key worker status. |
| NGOs and Welfare Organisations | Fill service delivery gaps, offer legal aid, counselling, and humanitarian support. |
Tentative Timeline for Implementation and Acceptance
| Phase | Timeline | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption & Ratification | 6–12 months | Flag states begin legal and procedural updates; shipping companies receive guidelines. |
| Initial Implementation | 12–24 months | Shipowners introduce onboard changes; governments begin port-level facilitation. |
| Monitoring & Compliance | 24–36 months | ILO-IMO Working Group reviews enforcement; deficiencies are flagged and addressed. |
| Widespread Impact | 3–5 years | Cultural shift in treatment of seafarers; measurable improvements in wellbeing and industry practices. |
Why Will It Take Time?
- Global Maritime Fragmentation: The shipping industry operates across jurisdictions with varying enforcement capacities.
- Resistance to Cost Increases: Some shipowners may resist implementing costly welfare reforms unless strictly enforced.
- Legal Bureaucracy: Amending national legislation and maritime codes often involves long procedural cycles.
- Cultural and Systemic Inertia: Issues like harassment, fatigue, and criminalisation have deep systemic roots that require continuous monitoring and advocacy to change.
A Promising Reform, but Vigilant Execution Needed
While the recognition of seafarers as “key workers” is a historic win, its true impact depends on active enforcement, cross-border coordination, and the resolve of each stakeholder to go beyond paper commitments. With global cooperation, the maritime industry can transform into a safer, fairer, and more humane space—but it will require years of sustained effort to fully realise this vision.
