While the oceans fuel global trade, they conceal an unsettling truth about the conditions of those who make it all possible. For seafarers, the regulatory systems meant to protect them from overwork often fail in design and Implementation, perpetuating a cycle of excessive working hours and inadequate protections.
The Problem with Maritime Labour Standards
International regulations such as the ILO’s C180 and IMO’s STCW 1978 were designed to safeguard seafarers by setting maximum working hours. Yet, their benchmarks – permitting workweeks as long as 91 and 98 hours (with exceptions) – fall far short of global labour standards. By comparison, land-based industries adhere to a 48-hour workweek, a standard first championed over a century ago in the Treaty of Versailles (1919), which laid the foundation for the ILO Constitution and was later reinforced through the ‘Decent Work’ criteria.
Why are maritime workers treated differently? The 48-hour workweek is considered as “… the legal standard closest to the point beyond which regular work becomes unhealthy, which is identified in the health literature as 50 hours”. Yet, seafarers remain locked into an outdated framework, forced to endure working hours unthinkable in most other professions. The disparity raises questions about the industry’s commitment to treating seafarers fairly and humanely.
Implementation: A System in Crisis
Even when regulatory standards exist, their Implementation is plagued by systemic failures. An analysis involving 6,304 seafarers, 55 port state control (PSC) officers, and 16,551 PSC inspections has laid bare the disconnect between policy and practice:
- 64.3% of seafarers admitted to falsifying their work and rest logs.
- PSC officers found it challenging to identify non-compliance.
- PSC officers reported compliance rates as high as 99.3%, while seafarers estimated compliance at a mere 11.7% to 16.1%.
The root of these issues can be traced to the weakness in several feedback loops:
- First, Suppressed Reporting: Two-thirds (66.7%) of seafarers had their reports questioned by companies, 60.1% faced expectations to falsify records, and 49.1% were explicitly instructed to do so.
- Second, Underutilised Escalation Mechanisms: Instances of record falsification do not escalate recurring non-compliance to flag State authorities who review or withdraw the manning certificate, allowing compliance issues to persist unchecked.
- Third, Skewed Reporting: Overstated compliance rates by PSC officers mask the true extent of violations, creating a misleading narrative of successful Implementation at the policy level.
- Fourth, Ignored Research: Despite two decades of studies highlighting the prevalence of record falsification, policymakers have failed to address this systemic issue.
Charting a Course for Reform
Addressing these deeply ingrained issues requires a fundamental shift in regulatory standards and implementation practices. Here are some actionable steps:
- Reassess Work Hour Standards: Align seafarers’ working hours with globally recognised labour benchmarks, ensuring their right to rest and recovery.
- Promote Transparent Reporting: Establish mechanisms that allow seafarers to report violations without fear of retaliation.
- Strengthen Enforcement: Enhance PSC officer training and adopt digital tools for monitoring compliance.
- Strengthen Enforcement: Enhance flag States’ accountability in overseeing non-compliance and determining manning levels.
- Advance Policy Reform: Policymakers at the IMO and ILO must prioritise amendments to existing regulations. The upcoming ILO’s MLC 2006 discussion in April 2025 offers a crucial opportunity to address these systemic shortcomings.
A Call to Action
The maritime industry must acknowledge its responsibility to protect the very workers who sustain global trade. Meaningful reform is not only a moral imperative but also essential for ensuring the sector’s long-term sustainability.
Seafarers have endured decades of inhumane working time regulations. It is time for policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to act decisively, delivering a framework that upholds their rights and dignity. Only by confronting these challenges can we truly honour the contributions of those who keep the world’s economy afloat.
The Author
Capt (Dr) Bikram S. Bhatia is a research associate at the World Maritime University in Sweden. His recent research centred on work/rest hours regulations as part of a three-year project funded by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust.
The full report is available at https://commons.wmu.se/phd_dissertations/35/.
Additional publications, “A Culture of Adjustment”, can be accessed at https://commons.wmu.se/lib_reports/66/, and “Quantifying an Inconvenient Truth” is available at https://commons.wmu.se/lib_reports/80/.
Marex Media