Following two days of negotiations during its 2025 session at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, the Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers of the Joint Maritime Commission (JMC), reached a bipartite agreement to update the current ILO minimum monthly basic wage for an able seafarer from US$673 to US$690 as of 1 January 2026, US$704 as of 1 January 2027 and US$715 as of 1 January 2028.
By reaching this agreement, the Subcommittee reaffirmed its unique role in protecting the rights and livelihoods of seafarers through global minimum wage setting.
“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,” explained Frank Hagemann, Director of the ILO Sectoral Policies Department.
The wage figure that informed the negotiations is grounded in a methodology adopted by the JMC in its 26th Session (October 1991), which considers a representative list of maritime nations and major suppliers of seafarers, average exchange rates over the most recent three months, and changes in consumer price indices.
“Increases in the ILO minimum wage are very important for seafarers, so I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to reach an agreement acceptable to both groups despite all the volatility in the world right now. We reaffirm that free trade must be fair trade and it must also mean fair treatment for those who keep global trade moving” Seafarers’ representative Mark Dickinson said.
“Together we continue to deliver positive change for our industry. Today’s outcome is a very good result for the seafarer on board while also taking into account the uncertainty in the global shipping market” added Pål Tangen, who represented Shipowners during the meeting.
The Joint Maritime Commission has offered a dedicated space for shipowners and seafarers to address shared challenges in a constantly evolving sector since its establishment in 1920. Building on this foundation, the Subcommittee was later established as the only statutory international wage-fixing mechanism of its kind across all industries.
This year’s Subcommittee meeting followed the fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended, which convened in Geneva from 7-11 April 2025, reinforcing the maritime sector’s continued commitment to meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
(IMO photo of seafarer)