Indian directorate warns seafarers of rising fraud in maritime recruitment

The advisory includes several recommendations:

1. The seafarers are advised to conduct a thorough research and vetting of recruitment agencies before entering into the Seafarers Employment Agreements (SEA).
2. The seafarers are advised to verify RPS agency credentials and reputation through all available sources, seeking guidance from reputable maritime organizations, seafarer unions or authorities and carefully reviewing employment contract terms.
3. In instances where RPS agencies advices seafarers to join alternate vessels, seafarers are advised not to comply unless provided with valid Seafarers Employment Agreements signed only by the authorized signatory of the Indian registered RPS agency.
4. Immediately report incidents by referring to contact details.
5. Seafarers are to note that if ship-owners / RPS agents are responding and vessels P&I certificate is valid and seafarers are not paid for wages, food, accommodation, drinking water supplies, fuel for survival and medical care then seafarer should enforce their rights by informing vessels Master to directly or through seafarers union approach the vessels P&I insurer to invoked the vessels financial security system under the MLC (for up to four months) for paid wages and repatriation at no cost to seafarer.
6. Seafarers are to note that if ship-owners / RPS agents are NOT responding and vessels P&I certificate is in-valid and seafarers are not paid for wages, food, accommodation, drinking water supplies, fuel for survival and medical care then seafarer should immediately approach their seafarers trade union or Indian embassy or Indian consulate or welfare organizations to arrange for a local lawyer to enforce their rights under maritime lien by arresting the ship to court which the maritime lien attaches, or by requesting concerned port authority for arresting sister ship / ship-owners other vessel in port if own ship value is insufficient to pay for seafarers wages and repatriation.
7. Seafarer when abandoned are advised to immediately seek assistance for survival, accommodation, food, water etc. from local port authority, non-profit organizations, own local trade unions, through welfare organizations and local High Commission India (HCI) till vessel is arrested and auctioned and seafarers’ wages (up to max. 04 months) and repatriation is settled through auctioning of the vessel.
8. Seafarer are advised to obtain assistance from local lawyer if the seafarers are at risk of detention and deportation to manage their risks and ensure their early repatriation.
9. Seafarers are encouraged to be alert from touts / agents and be alert of warning signs related to abandonment and assert their rights immediately and not to keep on waiting for things to improve.
10. Timely reporting and seeking assistance are essential to prevent further exploitation and ensure accountability within the recruitment sector. Considering the above, seafarers are strongly encouraged to assert their rights and seek immediate assistance from all relevant authorities or support organizations in case of suspicion or encounter with deceitful practices.