... Recruitment or placement fees and charges that are borne by seafarers illegally and in violation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) are a serious concern in the maritime industry.

Their impact on seafarers and the industry can be significant and can lead to a range of negative consequences. The stress and financial strain of paying illegal fees can take a toll on seafarers’ mental health, limit their career opportunities and lead to loss of trust in the shipping industry. The latter could exacerbate existing labour shortages. These fees and charges can be a significant burden for seafarers, especially those from developing countries. In some cases, seafarers might become trapped in debt bondage and may be forced to work in exploitative and abusive conditions, which are serious violations of their human rights.

The UK’s Liverpool John Moores University is currently undertaking a study which aims to address these exploitative and harmful-to-seafarers practices, by examining the extent of this problem and exploring potential solutions.

In this article, we present the results of a survey which examined the prevalence of these practices. The questionnaire survey was designed in co-operation with The Mission to Seafarers (MtS), who sponsored this study, and the Institute of Human Rights and Business (IHRB)...