Maritime - Fisheries
Over 58 million people are engaged in the primary sector of capture fisheries and aquaculture. Of these, approximately 37 percent are engaged full time, 23 percent part time, and the remainder either occasional fishers or of unspecified status. Over 15 million are working full-time on board fishing vessels.
Fishing is one of the most challenging and hazardous occupations ILO is working to ensure decent work for all fishers. The ILO’s international labour standard concerned specifically with work on board fishing vessels is the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188). This Convention demonstrates the renewed commitment by the ILO to ensure decent work in fishing. It aims to ensure decent conditions of work with regard to minimum requirements for work on board; conditions of service; accommodation and food; occupational safety and health protection; medical care and social security. A major effort is underway in the ILO to achieve widespread ratification and implementation of the Convention. Convention No. 188 is a valuable tool for addressing issues concerning migrant fisher and eliminating forced labour and child labour in the fishing sector.
Resources
- ILO training package on inspection of labour conditions on board fishing vessels
- Handbook for improving living conditions on board fishing vessels
- Training Manual on the Implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
- Safety Recommendations for Decked Fishing Vessels of Less than 12 metres in Length and Undecked Fishing Vessels (FAO/ILO/IMO)
- The making of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) and Recommendation, 2007 (No. 199)
- ILO Handbook for the detection of forced labour in commercial fishing - Towards freedom at sea
- The flexibility clauses of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
- Guideline to undertake a comparative analysis of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
- ILO Frequently Asked Questions: Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
- ILO/IMO/WHO International medical guide for ships
Database on reported incidents of abandonment of seafarers
Meetings and events
Geneva, 12-16 February 2024
Joint ILO–IMO meeting to adopt guidelines for Medical Examination of Fishers/Fishing Vessel Personnel
Geneva, 18–22 September 2017
Tripartite Meeting on Issues relating to Migrant Fishers
Oslo, 25-26 November 2015
International Conference on Labour Exploitation in the Fishing Sector in the Atlantic Region
Geneva, 21-25 September 2015
Meeting of Experts to Adopt Flag State Guidelines for the Implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
Jakarta, 28-29 April 2015
Second Regional Meeting on the Protection of Migrant Fishers: ASEAN Review of ‘Guidelines on Flag State Inspection of Working and Living...
Geneva, 15-17 May 2013
Global Dialogue Forum for the promotion of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No.188)
Geneva, 11-15 February 2010
Tripartite Meeting of Experts to Adopt Port State Control Guidelines for Implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)