The International Bargaining Forum (IBF), which is comprised of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) representing seafarers and the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) representing ship managers and owners, has agreed a pay increase for hundreds of thousands of seafarers around the world.
The IBF is the forum at which negotiations are held for the world’s only global collective bargaining agreement, which applies to more than 250,000 seafarers who work on flag of convenience vessels covered by an ITF-IBF collective bargaining agreement.
Workers’ representatives have agreed to accept an offer from employers which means that seafarers, officers and ratings will receive a 3.5% increase in wages and compensations in 2026 and a further 1.5% in 2027.
This agreement comes in addition to the recent landmark increase in the global minimum wage for seafarers agreed at the International Labour Organization (ILO)'s Joint Maritime Commission (JMC) Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers. The ILO's JMC and the IBF are distinct entities with different roles in the maritime industry. The JMC advises on setting international labour standards for seafarers, including the minimum wage. The IBF is a collective bargaining forum between the ITF and the International Maritime Employers' Council. IBF agreements are specific to the participating companies and their vessels and may exceed the minimum standards set by the ILO.
Tags
More articles
Maritime unions call for urgent policy reforms as merchant fleets shrink across NATO nations
A new report by Nautilus International and the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P) has revealed an alarming decline in merchant fleets and seafarer numbers across NATO member nations, potentially undermining the alliance's ability to respond to global conflicts and crises.
ILO subcommittee agrees landmark increase in global minimum wage for seafarers
Seafarers around the world will benefit from a significant pay rise after agreement was reached between representatives of industry and labour at a meeting held in Geneva from 14 to 15 April 2025.