India records highest number of abandoned seafarers for second consecutive year
Indian seafarers faced the highest rate of abandonment globally in 2024, with 899 cases out of a total of 3133 abandoned seafarers worldwide marking the worst year on record for seafarer abandonment.
According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation ITF there was an 87 percent increase in total cases compared to 2023 when 1676 seafarers were abandoned of which 401 were Indian making them the most affected group for the second year in a row, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Indian seafarers struggle with unpaid wages and harsh conditions
Chief engineer Sanjay (name changed) from Tamil Nadu has been stranded on a tug near Bangladesh under a flag of convenience FoC for 30 months since 2022.
He is owed nine months’ wages totaling 36000 dollars and has suffered severe financial losses including losing his home.
Second officer Shubham, 27, of Madhya Pradesh was among 10 Indian crew members abandoned in the Maldives for six months without pay facing food and water shortages before ITF intervention helped secure their wages and repatriation.
The ITF has reported a rise in human trafficking cases involving Indian seafarers and urges stricter regulations and enforcement to address this growing crisis
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