Basic Rights Under ILO

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ILO recommended basic minimum wage for an AB

The main aim of the minimum basic wage for the able seafarer is to provide an international safety net for the protection of, and to contribute to, decent work for seafarers.

It is based on the provisions of the ILO Seafarers’ Wages, Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships Recommendation, 1996 (No. 187) which recommends that the basic pay or wages for a calendar month of service for an able seaman should be no less than the amount periodically set by the Joint Maritime Commission, which is bipartite body of shipowners and seafarers established by ILO.

The Recommendation itself define seafarer as “any person defined as such by national laws or regulations or collective agreements who is employed or engaged in any capacity on board a seagoing ship ….”

The Joint Working Group of the Joint Maritime Commission met in July 2003 and agreed on joint interpretation of the total monthly minimum wage of able seamen.

This interpretation only relates to the earnings for an Able Seaman and should not be construed as implying an interpretation of the earnings that should be received by other grades of seafarer. The following principles are applicable as found in the relevant ILO Maritime Instruments:

Principle  Details
Minimum Basic
Monthly Wage
 As agreed by the ILO Joint Maritime Commission from time to time.
Normal Working
Hours		 8 hours per day, 48 hours per week (which equates to 208 hours per month).
Leave Leave shall in no case be less than 30 calendar days for one year’s service i.e. 2.5 days per calendar month.  
One day’s basic wage = basic monthly wage divided by 30.  Multiply by 2.5 to get leave pay per month. 
Overtime
Rate		 Each hour of overtime should be compensated at a rate of 1.25 x the basic hourly rate (the monthly basic wage divided by 208). 
Weekly rest day and
Public Holidays		 Work performed on the weekly day of rest and on public holidays should be duly recorded and signed by the seafarer and should be compensated by:
1. overtime remuneration in respect of each hour worked at the rate of 1.25 times the hourly rate for normal hours
OR
2. in lieu of remuneration, at least equivalent time off duty and off the ship at the rate indicated in 1 above
OR
3. additional leave in lieu of remuneration at the rate indicated in 1 above
Overtime
Hours
 Overtime records should be kept and signed by the seafarer and the master or duly authorized officer.

The last ILO Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers of the Joint Maritime Commission met in February 2006. The Subcommittee agreed that the recommended basic minimum wage should be raised to US$515 as of 1 January 2007, US$530 as of 1 January 2008 and US$545 as of 31 December 2008. 
Taking into account the principles above the total negotiated settlement at present time is as follows:

minimum basic monthly wage (01/01/2007) US$ 515.00 
2.5 days leave per month
 US$ 42.92 
104 hours overtime per month US$ 322.40
8 hours compensatory leave for public holidays
 US$ 24.80
Total
 US$ 905.12
     
minimum basic monthly wage (01/01/2008) 
 US$ 530.00
2.5 days leave per month   US$ 44.17
104 hours overtime per month US$ 331.76
8 hours compensatory leave for public holidays
 US$ 25.52
Total
 US$ 931.45
     
Minimum basic monthly wage (31/12/2008) US$ 545.00
2.5 days leave per month US$ 45.42
104 hours overtime per month 
 US$ 340.08
8 hours compensatory leave for public holidays 
 US$ 26.16
Total US$ 956.66

For further information on what the wages for different positions on board might look like, please see the documents linked on the right of this page.



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Related documents:
ILO Wagescales Jan 2007 (1142kb XLS)

ILO Wagescales Jan 2008 (28kb XLS)

ILO Wagescales Dec 2008 (28kb XLS)

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