The ongoing Iran–Israel conflict and the volatile situation in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz have intensified scrutiny of maritime risk zones. While the industry addresses insurance implications and routing strategies, a less discussed but critical concern lies in employment law and crew welfare.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has called for seafarers to have the right to refuse work transits through high-risk zones such as the Strait of Hormuz. This raises key legal questions for shipowners and charterers under employment contracts, particularly regarding the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) obligations, flag state requirements, and ITF Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
High-risk zones: current classifications
As of July 2025, the Joint War Committee (JWC) lists the following as High-Risk Areas:
Strait of Hormuz
Bab el-Mandeb Strait / Southern Red Sea
Gulf of Oman
Parts of the Indian Ocean
These classifications trigger implications under war risk clauses, insurance premiums, and seafarer deployment protocols.
Employment law considerations
Right to refuse dangerous work:
The International Transport Workers’ Federation is urging maritime employers to provide for seafarers’ rights to refuse to enter the Strait of Hormuz and Israeli ports. The Federation has asked for the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Israeli ports to be designated as Warlike Operations Areas (WOA), which means seafarers have the right to refuse to enter these zones...
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