Seafarers and Illegal Recruitment Fees: 2024 Insights

• New research for 2024 shows that almost a third (31%) of seafarers have been asked to pay a recruitment fee to secure a job onboard a merchant vessel - of these, 28% were asked in 2024 - meaning the problem is both endemic and current.
  
• Almost half of those who were charged fees paid between $500 – $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.
  
• This Research Briefing from IHRB and TURTLE provides recommendations for shipping companies, cargo owners and government agencies to end this corrupt and illegal practice.

Browse the briefing below or download it here

Seafarers and Illegal Recruitment Fees: 2024 Insights is a joint publication by IHRB and TURTLE, an ethical maritime recruitment platform.

2024's research mirrors findings from 2023, showing the practice of charging recruitment fees continues to be widespread.

The charging of recruitment fees, which is an illegal practice prohibited by international maritime law, sees workers - in this case seafarers - frequently pay fees to crewing agencies for recruitment and placement in jobs onboard merchant or shipping vessels. These fees may cover costs including the recruitment itself, travel, visa and administrative costs, and often other unspecified ‘fees’ and ‘service charges’. 

The findings of the 2024 Research Briefing are drawn from a survey conducted by TURTLE between May and July 2024. 2,627 seafarers responded. The survey was also disseminated by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), the Mission to Seafarers, ISWAN and members of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative among their seafarer networks.

Cover image: Rescue Drill

Photographer: Allan Brent P. Baladad ITF Seafarers Trust Photo Competition