Panama reaffirms commitment to protection of seafarers’ rights

During an official visit to the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), held in the context of the commemoration of International Day of the Seafarer, Panama has reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of seafarers.

Priority issues such as maritime safety, marine environmental protection, international trade facilitation and the promotion of greener and more sustainable transport were also discussed during the meeting.

The session was chaired by Felipe Arias, Director of the Directorate General for Seafarers (DGGM) of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), along with the Secretary-General of the IMO, Arsenio Domínguez and Panama’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Guido Martinelli.

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Within the framework of the dialogue, Panama’s participation as a Category “A” member of the IMO Council was highlighted. The country has been working closely with both the IMO and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to ensure the fair, safe, and dignified treatment of seafarers, in line with the IMO’s motto for this year: “My harassment-Free Ship”.

In this context, Panama served as the government vice-chair during the Third Meeting of the ILO/IMO Joint Tripartite Working Group, where new guidelines were endorsed. These aim to strengthen respect for human rights, promote cooperation between States, facilitate access to legal assistance, and discourage the use of custodial measures during investigations.

It was also noted that at the end of 2024, the 2022 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention Code (MLC, 2006), adopted by Panama, came into force. These amendments seek to significantly improve living conditions on board ships, including provisions for adequate food, timely medical care, connectivity, repatriation facilities, and the use of personal protective equipment.

Additionally, in April of this year, during the Fifth Meeting of the MLC’s Ad Hoc Tripartite Committee, Panama supported new amendments to further strengthen labor protections for seafarers. These covered aspects such as the right to go ashore, combating violence and harassment, and enhancing international cooperation for seafarer repatriation.

The amendments were ratified during the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), held at ILO Headquarters in June 2025, and are set to enter into force in December 2027.

During the visit, the Panamanian delegation also took part in the 110th Session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and engaged in discussions with the Panamanian delegation accredited to the IMO.