MARGAO: Taking serious note of deceitful practices within Indian recruitment and placement by seafarers’ companies, the Director General of Shipping issued an advisory on Monday to intensify Seafarers’ awareness.
The maritime authority cautioned that individuals posing as enforcement agencies have been cheating and taking seafarers’ families for a ride and have requested the seafaring community and their families against giving money to fraudsters who claim to be from law enforcing authorities.
Captain (Dr) Daniel Joseph, Deputy Director General of Shipping (Crew) also appealed to the family members of the seafarers to be vigilant against such practices.
In order to safeguard the interest of seafarers against these unprecedented risks, the Directorate General of Shipping issues the following advisory to Indian seafarers and their families; the seafarers are advised to conduct a thorough research and vetting of recruitment agencies before entering into the Seafarers Employment Agreements (SEA).
Besides, 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.
In instances where RPS agencies advise seafarers to join alternate vessels, seafarers are also advised not to comply unless provided with valid Seafarers Employment Agreements signed only by the authorized signatory of the Indian registered RPS agency and immediately report the incidents.
Seafarers 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.
Capt Joseph stated that his office have received representations from seafarers, seafarer families and seafarer unions that Indian seafarers are facing significant challenges of getting abandoned, stranded, arrested, detained at various ports worldwide.
Moreover, a recent report by International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has mentioned that a concerning number of vessels with Indians seafarers and a notable portion of which are reported to have flown Flags of Convenience (FoC), are being abandoned and indicating potential lapses in regulatory oversight, further stated.
He said that it has also come to this Directorates attention that certain Indian registered Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers (RPS) agencies are engaged in deceitful practices during the recruitment process of Indian seafarers and are posing risks to Indian seafarer’s well-being and their rights.
