Working Collectively to Eliminate Seafarer Recruitment Fees

• IHRB’s research shows that almost a third (31%) of seafarers have been asked to pay recruitment fees - an illegal practice prohibited by international maritime law, which can push seafarers towards conditions of modern slavery.
• IHRB has launched a two-year initiative to promote responsible recruitment of seafarers, with funding from the TK Foundation, The Seafarers’ Charity, and the ITF Seafarers’ Trust.
• The project addresses illegal recruitment practices such as fee charging and contract substitution in the maritime sector.
• It builds on IHRB’s global work on ethical recruitment, including the Dhaka Principles and the Employer Pays Principle, advocating for these in the maritime context.
• The initiative is predicated on collaboration with key maritime partners engaging in collective advocacy with regulatory authorities, in particular DG Shipping India.
• Activities include stakeholder engagement, awareness-raising, training, and advocacy in key maritime hubs including India, Singapore, UAE, London, and Norway.

Seafarers are the backbone of global trade, yet many face exploitation in their recruitment process, including being charged illegal fees, receiving misleading contracts, or lacking access to grievance mechanisms. 

Despite international standards, unethical recruitment practices among many crewing agencies persist and are under-addressed in the shipping sector. 

Since 2023, IHRB has been researching the proliferation of recruitment fees. Our most recent survey showed that almost a third (31%) of seafarers have been asked to pay a recruitment fee to secure a job onboard a merchant vessel, and almost half of those who were charged fees paid between $500 – $5,000, with some seafarers reporting being charged more than $10,000. 

These issues are compounded by the international and often opaque nature of maritime recruitment. 

This project responds to the need for more ethical and transparent recruitment systems to protect the rights and dignity of seafarers. It builds on IHRB’s ongoing work on human rights in the maritime industry and its leadership in responsible recruitment of low-paid migrant workers globally.

The project aims to promote responsible recruitment of seafarers by supporting the implementation of the Employer Pays Principle, increasing transparency in recruitment supply chains, and reducing exploitation and debt-related vulnerabilities of seafarers and their families, with a particular focus on India. 

Outcomes will include enhanced awareness of recruitment risks among industry stakeholders, increased pressure on regulatory bodies to enforce ethical recruitment standards, and the delivery of appropriate training v to seafarers in conjunction with key welfare organisations and unions. Through this work, the project also aims to foster stronger partnerships across the shipping industry to advocate collectively for systemic change in seafarer recruitment.

• Shipowners and operators: Gain guidance on implementing ethical recruitment practices and reducing reputational risk.
• Crewing agencies: Better understand compliance expectations and improve recruitment processes.
• Trade unions and seafarer welfare organisations: Access tools to advocate for better recruitment standards and protections.
• Regulatory authorities: Receive input on strengthening oversight and regulation of crewing agencies to minimise risks of illegal practices.
• Seafarer rights funders, NGOs, and human rights advocates: Learn from a collaborative approach to address complex labour rights issues in the maritime sector.
• Seafarers who will benefit in the long-term from the mainstreaming of ‘Employer Pays’ responsible recruitment practices among crewing agencies and a stronger regulatory environment.

• Ongoing mapping of seafarer recruitment practices and identification of systemic risks.
• Delivery of awareness-raising and training activities for ratings seafarers in India, in particular in Tamil Nadu.
• Stakeholder consultations and dialogues in India, Singapore, UAE, London and Norway.
• Engagement and advocacy with regulators, particularly DG Shipping India, to promote adoption of the Employer Pays Principle.
• Development of practical guidance and tools for maritime stakeholders on responsible recruitment