Later, in 2003, IMEC was joined in the negotiations by the International Maritime Mariners Organisation of Japan (IMMAJ), representing most Japanese owners of flag of convenience ships. As a result, the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) was formed to provide a mechanism to allow for the co-ordination of the employers views and, at the same time, the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) was created as the forum in which the JNG could meet ITF for collective bargaining purposes. Both the JNG and the IBF are explained in more detail in the relevant section of this site.

While the IBF negotiates the overall amount of the periodic wage increases, the application of these increases is left to local negotiations in several key countries, such as the Philippines, India, Poland and Russia. These negotiations are also co-ordinated by IMEC on behalf of its members.

Apart from the periodic wage negotiations, IMEC also has regular meetings to discuss a range of other issues covering industrial relations and labour affairs as well as general manpower issues and training. These include ITF policies, developments at the International Labour Organization and issues that arise following meetings of the IBF and the JNG as well as welfare and training matters that arise as a result of the establishment of the IBF Welfare Fund and the International Maritime Training Trust.