The International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) is the only global employers’ organisation dedicated exclusively to maritime labour relations.

Founded over 70 years ago and reconstituted under its current name and structure in 1992, IMEC represents the interests of shipowners and ship managers in collective bargaining, employment matters and regulatory engagement across the international shipping industry.

Today, IMEC represents more than 330 shipping companies operating over 15,000 vessels worldwide and employing more than 400,000 seafarers of all nationalities. More than half of these seafarers are covered by collective bargaining agreements negotiated with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

IMEC is a founding member of the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG), which brings together leading maritime employers’ organisations to negotiate international collective bargaining agreements with the ITF within the framework provided by the International Bargaining Forum (IBF). These agreements establish wages, employment terms and conditions, and welfare provisions for hundreds of thousands of seafarers serving on internationally trading vessels.

In addition to collective bargaining, IMEC provides its members with expert advice on industrial relations, employment policy, crew welfare, labour supply, training, and emerging regulatory developments. The organisation works closely with governments, international institutions, seafarer unions and industry stakeholders to promote fair, sustainable and globally competitive employment practices within shipping.

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, IMEC serves a diverse international membership and remains committed to supporting constructive social dialogue, responsible employment standards and the long-term sustainability of the maritime industry.

For more information, please visit the website https://imec.org.uk/