A new study has found that almost a third (31%) of seafarers have been asked to pay a recruitment fee to get a job onboard a merchant vessel. Of these, 73% said they were asked to pay money, however, seafarers also reported being asked for gifts, unpaid apprenticeships, and/or money for agency fees, visas, travel expenses, medical expenses, and even sexual favours (2%).

As it is reported, 62% said they were asked for a fee by a crewing or manning agent, 41% said they had been asked by another company or person linked to a crewing/manning agent or a shipping company; 24% mentioned an online recruitment platform and 12% said by the shipping company itself.

This report by the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) and TURTLE, an ethical maritime recruitment platform, shows that of these, 28% were asked in 2024, demonstrating that this practice, despite being illegal under the Maritime Labour Convention, is current and endemic.

This year TURTLE and IHRB carried out further research focussing on recruitment fees specifically, to get more insight into levels of debt, and mental health implications. 2,627 seafarers responded to the 2024 survey.

The new research for 2024 shows that almost half of those who were charged fees paid between $500 and $5,000, with some seafarers reporting being charged more than $10,000.

The resulting levels of debt push many seafarers towards modern slavery conditions and are linked to unsafe conditions aboard ships, according to researchers.

The research also includes findings on the mental health impacts of recruitment fees, with almost three quarters of seafarers saying recruitment fee requests impacted their mental health.

The research found that 74% of those asked to pay a fee did so, possibly because they felt they had no choice.

A staggering 80% of seafarers who were asked to pay illegal recruitment fees did not report the incidents to authorities, with many unaware that this practice is illegal.

“Heard from seafarers, that still many crewing agencies in many countries (especially mid/far east and Eastern European) are asking for fee,” a master from Georgia said.

“I have been asked for money multiple times, even once when I paid I didn’t get the position and salary which I was promised, instead, I got lesser salary and a longer contract,” a second officer from Montenegro noted.

Seafarers reported that in the majority of cases they did actually meet in person the agent asking for the recruitment fee. However, 40% handed over money to someone they had never met, possibly reflecting the level of desperation for a job.

Over a quarter of seafarers who were asked to pay a fee (26%) refused to do so. In accordance with the research, by rank 29% of officers and cadets refused to pay, however, only 20% of ratings, suggesting that lower ranks feel less able to refuse.

The report emphasises the fact that shipping companies and cargo owners must be made aware of these malpractices and ensure that seafarers aboard vessels they are associated with are not victim to illegal recruitment fees.

Source: The Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB). To read the full research pls see here.