- 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 well-being 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.
Notes
About ILO’s Joint Maritime Commission (JMC)
The ILO minimum wage is reviewed periodically by the ILO Joint Maritime Commission (JMC), a bipartite ILO body comprising a global group of maritime employers, co-ordinated by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and a global group of seafarers’ unions, co-ordinated by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). The global ILO Minimum Wage is next scheduled for review by the JMC in the first half of 2028.
About ICS:
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the principal international trade association for merchant shipowners and operators, representing all sectors and trades and over 80% of the world merchant fleet.
About ITF:
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation of transport workers’ unions recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve working lives; connecting trade unions and workers’ networks from 147 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice of the 16.5million women and men who move the world.