If your ship is covered by an ITF agreement, you are entitled to the ITF wages in that agreement.
To find out if your ship is covered by an ITF approved agreement go to Look Up.
For national flag vessels, the ITF believes that no seafarer should be paid below the ILO level.
ILO recommended basic minimum wage for an AB
The main aim of the minimum basic wage for the able seafarer is to provide an international safety net for the protection of, and to contribute to, decent work for seafarers.
It is based on the provisions of the ILO Seafarers’ Wages, Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships Recommendation, 1996 (No. 187) which recommends that the basic pay or wages for a calendar month of service for an able seaman should be no less than the amount periodically set by the Joint Maritime Commission, which is bipartite body of shipowners and seafarers established by ILO.
The Recommendation itself defines a seafarer as “any person defined as such by national laws or regulations or collective agreements who is employed or engaged in any capacity on board a seagoing ship ….”
The Joint Working Group of the Joint Maritime Commission meets every two years.
This interpretation only relates to the earnings for an Able Seaman and should not be construed as implying an interpretation of the earnings that should be received by other grades of seafarer.
The following principles are applicable as found in the relevant ILO Maritime Instruments:
| Principle | Details |
| Minimum Basic Monthly Wage |
As agreed by the ILO Joint Maritime Commission from time to time. |
| Normal Working Hours |
8 hours per day, 48 hours per week (which equates to 208 hours per month). |
| Leave |
Leave shall in no case be less than 30 calendar days for one year’s service i.e. 2.5 days per calendar month. |
| Overtime Rate |
Each hour of overtime should be compensated at a rate of 1.25 x the basic hourly rate (the monthly basic wage divided by 208). |
| Weekly rest day and Public Holidays |
Work performed on the weekly day of rest and on public holidays should be duly recorded and signed by the seafarer and should be compensated by: 1. overtime remuneration in respect of each hour worked at the rate of 1.25 times the hourly rate for normal hours OR 2. in lieu of remuneration, at least equivalent time off duty and off the ship at the rate indicated in 1 above OR 3. additional leave in lieu of remuneration at the rate indicated in 1 above |
| Overtime Hours |
Overtime records should be kept and signed by the seafarer and the master or duly authorized officer. |