In February 2006, the International Labour Organization decided on the Maritime Labour Convention. The Convention lays down minimum requirements for issues relating to the work environment, social security, working conditions and the health of seafarers in global shipping and was created to increase the security and well-being of seafarers. According to that decision, the convention would enter into force as soon as 33 percent of member states ratified the regulations. This took place in August 2013, one year after Sweden joined the convention. Since then the Convention has been updated several times and in 2025 further amendments were negotiated.

“One of the more widely discussed issues was about seafarers’ rights to shore leave based on experiences from the COVID pandemic,” says Charlotta Rennwandt, regulatory officer at the Swedish Transport Agency, who took part in the negotiations held in Geneva. Exactly what this means for Sweden will only be known after we have completed our analysis. Work is now underway and in May 2026 we will pass on our conclusions to the government.

The Maritime Labour Convention has not entailed any major changes for Swedish ships since many of the provisions were already included in Swedish legislation. The Convention has been far more important for international shipping. 

I really believe we can claim it has made life better for those who work on board.

“I really believe we can claim it has made life better for those who work on board,” says Charlotta Rennwandt.   

According to her, one of the strengths of the convention is that employers, employees and government representatives cooperate on the content of the convention.

“This tripartite group is unique in the international context. Hopefully, it will help to ensure a balance in the outcome of the negotiations, because you have everyone’s perspective on decisions that are made”, she says.