The International Labour Organization (ILO) minimum wage for able seafarers has been decided to be limited to its current level of $614 basic pay per month until at least 2018.
An able seafarer accounts being an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship.
The decision was arrived at after a meeting was held in Geneva, which was participated in by the representatives of maritime employers co-ordinated by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and seafarers’ unions co-ordinated by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
Shipowners Group spokesperson Max Johns said: "The continuation of the current minimum wage until at least 2018, at the increased level which came into effect in January 2016 as a result of the previous JMC agreement, means that employers should benefit from a period of stability in what are otherwise very challenging markets for the global industry."
ICS, acting as an official ILO social partner has issued their support on the declared global minimum wage, which is said to be a unique concept to the international shipping industry.
The ILO minimum implies only the basic wage for the non-officer grade of Able Seafarer, while the total minimum payable is actually higher after taking into consideration the overtime payments and other pay related entitlements under the ILO Maritime Labour Convention.
The next review of the ILO minimum wage by the ILO Joint Maritime Commission is expected in 2018.
In 2014, a subcommittee of the Joint Maritime Commission (JMC) of the ILO passed the resolution to raise the minimum monthly basic wage figure for able seafarers from $585 to $592.
