Maximising Cross-Border Labor Mobility of Seafarers in APEC region

Seafarers from 21 APEC economies, are not only an indispensable source of human capital for the global maritime industry, covering at least 56% of the world's seafaring population (BIMCO, 2015), but also pivotal in providing support to their economies as a major industrial pillar, specifically in developing economies where the development of skills and enhancement of labor mobility of human resources is essential in creating sustainable and inclusive regional growth. This paper examines challenges and barriers in seafarer mobility in relation to policies in APEC economies and investigates mutual collaborative actions that can be taken to address the issues identified in a coordinated and harmonised manner.