The International Labor Organization (ILO) has decided on a new minimum wage for seafarers.
At the meeting of the Joint Maritime Commission’s (JMC) Subcommittee on Seafarers’ Wages in Geneva, a gradual increase until 2028 was agreed.
This important bipartite dialog was attended by 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 an officially recognized global minimum wage, which has been in place for seafarers since 1958. The 2006 ILO Maritime Labor Convention stipulates that the minimum basic monthly remuneration for able seafarers is to be determined at regular intervals by the Joint Market Committee.
Following the negotiations, a resolution was adopted setting out the updated minimum wages to be submitted to the ILO Governing Body for approval at its 355th session in November this year. The newly agreed figures are as follows:
- $690 as of January 1, 2026
- 704 $ from January 1, 2027
- 715 $ from January 1, 2028
Minimum wage increase of 6%
The updated wage structure represents an increase of more than 6% and builds on the previous three-year agreement reached in September 2022, which set the minimum wage at $673 from January 1, 2025.
“This agreement strikes a careful and considered balance between recognizing the vital contribution of seafarers and maintaining the commercial sustainability of the global shipping industry,” said Pål Tangen (Norwegian Shipowners’ Association), spokesperson for the shipowners’ group during the meeting. “Seafarers play an indispensable role in keeping global trade moving, often in difficult and unpredictable conditions.” These are not ordinary times and this resolution reflects respect for their service while ensuring that shipowners can continue to operate in a highly competitive and volatile global market.
“Seafarers are vital to the delivery of 90% of all goods to people in every country in the world and the ITF will always call for proper recognition of these workers,” said Mark Dickinson (Nautilus International), spokesperson for the seafarers’ group. “Last week we made an important breakthrough by recognizing the status of seafarers as key workers in the Maritime Labour Convention. This week we have taken a further step towards improving their welfare through wage increases that both maintain and increase the value of the ILO AB minimum wage, taking into account the increase in the cost of living since 2022.”
Frank Hagemann, Director of the ILO Sectoral Policies Department, added: “The outcome of this unique global collective bargaining forum represents more than just a technical adjustment to the minimum wage.” It reflects a shared responsibility and commitment to ensure decent work at sea.
Trade wars also threaten seafarers
The negotiations in Geneva took place against the backdrop of escalating global trade tensions. In their opening speeches, both sides expressed concern about the current uncertainty and the prospect of a potential full-scale trade war that could divide the world and reshape global trade, putting shipping in the crosshairs and thus impacting the lives and livelihoods of the world’s nearly two million seafarers.
Seafarers must not become collateral victims of a global economic conflict, says the ILO. “We reaffirm that fair trade must also mean fair treatment of those who keep world trade going.”
