The survey of 2,672 seafarers by The Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) and TURTLE was jointly published on World Maritime Day in a report entitled ‘Seafarers and Illegal Recruitment Fees: 2024’, reports Seatrade Maritime.
The research showed that 31% of seafarers had been asked to pay a recruitment fee to secure work on a merchant vessel.
Of those asked to pay 26% refused, while the majority, 74%, paid a fee that ranged from less than $99 to more than $10,000.
Of those that paid a fee 35% paid less than $500, while the largest portion 47% was in the $500 – $5,000 range. Some 6% paid over $5,000 – $10,000, and 2% over $10,000.
The problem is particularly acute in India which accounted for 39% of those paying over $1,000. The report quoted an Indian seafarer as saying, “It is almost impossible for cadets to enter this industry without paying this huge amount in the name of a service charge in India.”
Illegal fees
The illegal fees also push seafarers into debt and the survey found those who have reported paying fees, 29% have accumulated up to $500 of debt to date, 41% between $500 and $5,000, and 15% over $5,000 worth of debt.
“The worse part is I went to borrow all this money,” said an engine cadet from Ghana.
The stress of being in debt impacts mental health of more than quarter of those asked. Of those 43% said it affected their mental health in terms of financial stress, 20% depression, and 18% anxiety and stress.
MLC
The charging of recruitment fees is illegal under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) yet 74% who were asked to pay a fee did so in part due to a lack of awareness. The shipping companies themselves are also not aware that recruiters are charging fees.
The report called for effective mechanisms to penalise offending agencies and to provide remedies for seafarers who have paid illegal recruitment fees, including possibly, reimbursement by employers of fees already paid. Seafarers also needed to know where to report such illegal practices.
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Source: Seatrade Maritime
