A major new report published on 27 May by the World Maritime University, commissioned by the European Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Transport Workers’ Federation, has revealed alarming disparities between the rights and protections afforded to sea workers and those enjoyed by land-based workers across Europe.
The report, titled “Charting the Distinct Rights of Sea Workers in European Waters: A Focus on Decent Working Time,” examines how maritime workers continue to face working and living conditions that fall significantly below general labour standards. According to the researchers, sea workers remain excluded from several key EU labour directives, contributing to weaker protections and legal uncertainty within the sector.
The study highlights that current maritime governance frameworks continue to prioritise commercial and operational interests over occupational safety, health, and decent work standards. Researchers warn that chronic overwork has become normalised within the maritime industry, posing serious risks not only to seafarers’ wellbeing but also to maritime safety.
Under the current legislative framework, sea workers can legally work up to 91 hours per week through regulations based on “minimum hours of rest” rather than maximum working hours. The report notes that the average working week for sea workers stands at 74.9 hours — significantly above the International Labour Organization’s benchmark of 48 hours for decent working time and well beyond the global average of 43 hours per week for land-based workers.
The findings further reveal that:
- 3% of sea workers perform more than 72 hours of work per week;
- 7% exceed 91 hours per week, surpassing the compliance threshold established under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006);
- Maritime workers remain excluded from night work limitation provisions that apply to workers in many other sectors.
A fatigue criteria analysis included in the study found that shipping and fishing sectors fail to address any of the eight recognised fatigue-related criteria used for transport workers. By comparison, aviation, rail, and road transport sectors address six criteria, including protections related to time of day and rest periods.
Researchers warn that excessive working hours, insufficient rest, and disrupted sleep patterns directly affect concentration, decision-making, and situational awareness, significantly increasing the risk of human error and endangering crews, vessels, cargo, passengers, and the marine environment.
The report also references evidence from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury, which links long working hours — defined as 55 hours or more per week — to increased risks of ischemic heart disease and stroke. According to the study, maritime workers are particularly vulnerable to these health risks due to consistently excessive workloads and inadequate recovery time.
Beyond working time concerns, the report stresses that seafarers continue to face substantial gaps in protection under the broader EU labour framework. Researchers argue that the exclusion of maritime workers from several horizontal labour instruments creates unequal treatment compared with land-based workers.
The study additionally calls for a reassessment of how jurisdiction and applicable law are determined for sea workers, stating that reliance on Flag State jurisdiction in private employment disputes is increasingly outdated and no longer fit for purpose.
Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., President of the World Maritime University, said the report demonstrates the urgent need for scientifically informed and consistent working time standards across all sectors.
“The report reviews and examines gaps between maritime working time standards and the ILO’s and EU’s reference framework for other workers. The labour regulatory framework for seafarers must ensure a safe and decent workplace at sea supported by, among other things, scientifically informed and clearly articulated working time standards consistent across all sectors,” he said.
“Ensuring decent working and living conditions is imperative to safeguarding seafarers’ rights, promoting safety at sea, and sustaining the maritime industry.”
You can read the report HERE.