Surge In Fraudulent Job Rackets Exposes Aspiring Indian Seafarers To Financial Losses And Career Uncertainty

A growing number of fraudulent job rackets in India’s maritime sector is leaving aspiring seafarers facing heavy financial losses and uncertain careers, according to a report by the All India Seafarers Union.

The report, accessed by ETV Bharat, said fake placement agencies and unauthorised manning agents have increased in recent years.

These agents mainly target young job seekers who are trying to secure work on foreign-going and coastal vessels, often promising high salaries and quick placements abroad.

Many of these agents operate without valid licences. Even though the Directorate General of Shipping has issued repeated warnings, complaints of cheating and illegal recruitment are still being reported.

AISU working president Abhijeet Sangle said one of the biggest problems is the lack of a central system to track such fraud cases.

Most complaints are filed under general cheating laws, which makes it difficult to understand how widespread the problem is or to identify repeat offenders. He added that without proper data, policy action remains slow and reactive.

The report also pointed out that many cases go unreported. Victims often do not file complaints due to lack of awareness, fear of social stigma, or confusion about legal procedures. In several states, informal complaints are said to be higher than officially registered FIRs.

India remains one of the world’s major suppliers of seafarers. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the country contributes around 12 per cent of the global seafarer workforce and ranks third worldwide.

The number of active Indian seafarers is estimated to be between 2.85 lakh and 3 lakh, with nearly 80 per cent working on foreign-flagged ships.

Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan has said India aims to increase this share to 20 per cent under long-term maritime plans.

The report said fraudulent agents usually ask for large upfront payments, sometimes running into lakhs of rupees, and often ask candidates to transfer money into personal bank accounts.

In many cases, seafarers are not given important documents like the Seafarer Employment Agreement, which leaves them without legal protection.

Maritime expert Sanjay Prashar said these agents often promise immediate placement on foreign vessels with attractive salaries. However, once the money is paid, the agent either disappears or keeps delaying the joining date.

He said the problem is not limited to India. Global estimates suggest that around 28 to 31 per cent of seafarers face illegal recruitment fee demands, especially those entering the industry for the first time.

Prashar also said stricter action is needed against unlicensed agents and there should be better coordination between central and state authorities.

Although the Merchant Shipping Act was passed last year, he said its implementation has been slow due to coordination issues.

Stakeholders have called for a proper grievance system and a centralised database to track such fraud cases. They believe this would help authorities identify patterns, take action against repeat offenders, and protect job seekers.

Prashar said many victims are still not getting support and added that during the ongoing West Asia conflict, several seafarers are facing difficulties, with some stranded in high-risk areas and limited assistance reaching them.

He also pointed to the lack of dedicated police units to deal with maritime job fraud as a reason why such rackets continue.

The Directorate General of Shipping has again warned candidates to avoid dealing with sub-agents or middlemen.

It has said recruitment should only be done through authorised Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Licence agencies under the RPS Rules, 2016.

The regulator has advised candidates to verify official email IDs, office details, and licences before making any payments.

According to the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network, the organisation assisted 6,740 seafarers and their families globally in 2023 through its helplines and provided training to nearly 6,000 seafarers, including pre-departure and mental health sessions.

Since 2019, ISWAN’s SeafarerHelp helpline has handled 475 cases of illegal recruitment involving 1,048 Indian seafarers. Many of these cases involved agents taking money without providing jobs or placing seafarers in unsafe working conditions.

Reference: etvbharat