UN to Address Work/Rest Regulations at Sea

Following extensive research highlighting the persisting issue of round-the-clock work hours for seafarers, the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) is set to revise the regulations governing work/rest schedules at sea. This initiative will be discussed at a Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in Geneva in April.

The ILO’s decision to focus on work/rest hours stems from a comprehensive 64-page report by the World Maritime University, which gathered feedback from over 9,000 seafarers worldwide in 2022. The survey revealed that seafarers work an average of 11.5 hours, rest for 10.8 hours, and sleep for 7.0 hours daily. Shockingly, 28.1% of seafarers reported resting for less than the required 10 hours, thereby violating rest hour standards.

On a weekly basis, seafarers work an average of 74.9 hours, significantly exceeding the global average of 43 hours per week reported by the ILO in 2018.

Noteworthy findings from the survey indicate that 78.3% of seafarers do not receive a full day off during their entire contract period, contrary to the MLC guidelines. Additionally, 88.3% of seafarers admit to surpassing work/rest hour limits at least once a month, with 16.5% exceeding these limits more than ten times monthly. Only 31.6% of seafarers claim to never manipulate their work/rest records.

The report also highlights the discrepancy between high compliance rates reported by port state control and seafarers’ actual non-compliance, leading to a skewed narrative at policy levels.

One proposed solution is the establishment of protected websites for each vessel, managed by the flag state, where seafarers can log in securely to track their work hours.

Despite industry discussions on automation reducing manpower requirements, 87.6% of survey respondents believe there is an imbalance between work demand and crewing levels.

Regulations set by the International Maritime Organization, including the MLC and the Seafarers’ Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping Code (STCW), specify the maximum and minimum hours of work and rest for crew members to prevent fatigue-related accidents.

Under the MLC, the maximum hours of work should not exceed 14 hours in a 24-hour period or 72 hours in a seven-day period, while the minimum hours of rest should not be less than 10 hours in a 24-hour period or 77 hours in a seven-day period.

Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, emphasizes the need to address the overwhelming demands faced by seafarers and the lack of transparency in reporting work hours to ensure their well-being.

Topics to be discussed at the upcoming MLC summit in Geneva include violence and harassment, repatriation, and shore leave.