The objective of its programme is to enhance social and economic progress in these industries as a whole and particularly for the workers concerned.
The means of action are the following:
(i) Research studies and technical reports
(ii) Technical advisory services
Examples of this activity include:
- the preparation of papers on maritime technical questions as ILO contributions to conferences, meetings, studies, surveys and training courses;
- the undertaking of short-term advisory missions; and
- the provision of technical advice and information to ILO member States, employers' and workers' organisations, governmental and non-governmental national and international organisations and to individuals(on request).
(iii) Dissemination of technical information
- the ILO is a major publishing house and publishes a large amount of technical information in the form of books, brochures, reports and working papers, on subjects related to, for example, occupational safety and health and training. In the maritime field, there are, among others, publications, guidelines on such subjects as accident prevention and the inspection of ships.
(iv) Standard-setting activities
- Examples of this activity include: the preparation of, or contribution to, reports submitted to the Governing Body and its committees, including Sectoral Committees, regional conferences and technical meetings for which the agenda has been established by the Governing Body, as well as reports prepared for the Joint Maritime Commission, the Preparatory Technical Maritime Conference, the Maritime Session of the International Labour Conference, the Joint ILO/WHO Committee on the Health of Seafarers, the Joint IMO/ILO Committee on Training, and technical committees on the conditions of work of fishermen, port personnel and inland boatmen.
This includes:
- the development of international labour standards for the maritime industries in close consultation with other technical departments; and
- analysis of technical reports by governments on the application of Conventions, Recommendations and other Conference decisions relevant to the maritime industries.
