A new report titled “Seafarers and Illegal Recruitment Fees: 2024,” jointly published by the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) and TURTLE on World Maritime Day, reveals that 31% of seafarers have been asked to pay recruitment fees to secure work on merchant vessels.
Isabelle Rickmers, CEO and founder of TURTLE, expressed alarm at the findings, stating, “The fact that one in three seafarers are affected, regardless of rank or nationality, is deeply concerning. We simply can no longer ignore this when we aim to move towards clean supply chains.”
Of those asked to pay, 26% refused, while 74% complied, paying fees ranging from less than $99 to over $10,000. Most paid between $500 and $5,000, with 6% paying over $5,000, and 2% more than $10,000.
The issue is particularly prevalent in India, where 39% of those paying over $1,000 were located.
One Indian seafarer remarked, “It is almost impossible for cadets to enter this industry without paying this huge amount in the name of a service charge.”
Francesca Fairbairn, who leads IHRB’s work on shipping and commodities, condemned the practice, noting, “Recruitment fees are an injustice that no worker should face, least of all seafarers who keep goods moving around the world. These illegal fees are endemic in shipping and often exorbitant, placing seafarers under financial stress, which can lead to unsafe working conditions on board ships.”
The survey further showed that 29% of those who paid recruitment fees have accumulated up to $500 in debt, 41% owe between $500 and $5,000, and 15% are burdened with debts exceeding $5,000. This financial strain has serious implications for mental health, with 43% of respondents reporting stress, 20% experiencing depression, and 18% suffering from anxiety.
Despite the illegality of these fees under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 74% of those who were asked to pay did so, partly due to a lack of awareness.
Fairbairn also pointed out that many shipping companies and cargo owners are unaware that recruiters are charging illegal fees, calling for greater responsibility from companies to ensure seafarers are not exploited.
The report urges the creation of effective mechanisms to penalise offending agencies and provide remedies for seafarers, including reimbursement of fees. It also stresses the importance of educating seafarers on where to report such practices.
As an engine cadet from Ghana shared, “The worst part is I had to borrow all this money.”
These illegal practices not only push seafarers into debt but also heighten the emotional and financial burdens they already face.
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