By Capt (Dr) Bikram S Bhatia

Whilst India grapples with the controversy surrounding the construction company L&T chairman’s comments on 90-hour workweeks, 1.9 million seafarers responsible for transporting 80% of global goods have been experiencing this reality for decades. International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations permit seafarers to work up to 91 hours weekly, with provisions allowing up to 98 hours.

These regulations allow exhausting hours for those without whom, as the saying goes, “half the world would starve, and the other half would freeze”. A 2024 World Maritime University (WMU) survey of over 6,300 seafarers revealed an average workweek of 74.9 hours, with 11.7% surpassing 91 hours. Worryingly, 78.3% receive no weekly rest throughout their contracts.

The issue extends beyond excessive hours. The study uncovered that 64.3% of seafarers falsify work-hour records to appear compliant, with half doing so under coercion. Interviews with 55 port State inspectors confirmed widespread difficulties in detecting non-compliance and falsifications.

These findings echo two decades of research, highlighting the lack of policy progress despite long-standing awareness of the problem.

With the ILO Special Tripartite Committee convening in April 2025, reform of this persistent issue is long overdue. IMO and ILO regulations must establish work-hour limits based on scientific evidence, emphasising the impact of excessive hours on workers’ health, safety, and productivity. Moreover, robust accountability measures are essential to ensure flag States determine appropriate manning levels and implement effective oversight mechanisms to maintain work-hour compliance during ship operations.

As one of the major seafaring nations, supplying 12% of the world’s seafarers and aiming to increase this to 20% under the 2030 Maritime Vision, India must spearhead these crucial reforms to ensure humane working conditions and enforceable work-hour limits for their workforce. Without prompt action, the very seafarers who sustain global trade will continue to work to the point of burnout, making workforce retention an ever-growing challenge.

(The author of this article is a Research Associate at World Maritime University, Sweden)