- The International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers’
Federation (ITF) both welcomed the introduction of a new minimum wage,
following negotiations in Geneva. - These increases reaffirm the commitment of the global maritime industry to
decent work and sustainable employment for seafarers, supporting their wellbeing and enabling them to provide for their families. - Maritime transport remains the only industry with a formally recognised global
minimum wage, in place for seafarers since 1958.
Wednesday 16, Geneva – The International Labour Organization (ILO) has concluded
the latest round of minimum wage negotiations for able seafarers at a meeting of the
Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers of the Joint Maritime Commission (JMC), held in
Geneva on 14 and 15 April 2025.
This critical bipartite dialogue brought together shipowners and seafarers’ unions from
around the world, coordinated by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
Maritime transport remains the only industry with a formally recognised global
minimum wage, in place for seafarers since 1958. ILO’s 2006 Maritime Labour
Convention, mandates that the minimum monthly basic wage for an able seafarer be
set periodically by the JMC.
Following the negotiations, a Resolution was adopted setting out the updated minimum
wage levels, to be submitted for approval by the 355th session of ILO’s Governing Body,
in November this year. The newly agreed figures are as follows:
- US$690 as of 1 January 2026.
- US$704 as of 1 January 2027.
- US$715 as of 1 January 2028.
The updated wage structure represents an increase of more than 6% and builds on the
previous 3-year agreement concluded in September 2022, which set the minimum
at US$673 as of 1 January 2025.
Mr Pål Tangen (Norwegian Shipowners’ Association), Spokesperson for the shipowners
group during the meeting, said:
“This agreement strikes a careful and considered balance between recognising the vital contribution of seafarers and maintaining the commercial sustainability of the global shipping industry. Seafarers play an indispensable role in keeping world trade flowing, often under tough and unpredictable conditions. These are not ordinary times, and this resolution reflects our respect for their service, while ensuring that shipowners can continue to operate in a highly competitive and volatile global market.”
Mr Mark Dickinson (Nautilus International), Spokesperson for the seafarers group,
commented:
“Seafarers are crucial in delivering 90% of all goods for people in every nation of the
world and the ITF will always demand proper recognition for these workers. Last week
we made an important breakthrough with recognition of seafarers’ key worker status in the Maritime Labour Convention. This week we have taken a further step to improve
their welfare through pay rises that both retain and increase the value of the ILO AB
minimum wage, taking into account increases in the cost of living since 2022.”
Mr Frank Hagemann, Director of the ILO Sectoral Policies Department, added:
“The outcome of this wholly unique global collective bargaining forum represents more
than just a technical adjustment to the minimum wage. It reflects a shared
responsibility and commitment to uphold decent work at sea.”
The negotiations in Geneva took place against the backdrop of the escalation in global
trade tensions. In their opening remarks, both sides expressed concern about the
current cloud of uncertainty and the prospect of a potential full-scale trade war, which
could divide the world and reshape global trade, with shipping caught in the crosshairs
and therefore impacting the lives and livelihoods of the world’s nearly two million
seafarers. Seafarers must not be collateral victims of global economic conflict. We
reaffirm that fair trade must also mean fair treatment for those who keep global trade
moving.
