GFRR 2026 - Seafarer Recruitment Fees: Persistent Challenges and Practical Solutions

Despite international standards prohibiting recruitment fees for seafarers, costs continue to be pushed onto workers through complex and often hidden chains of agents, sub-agents, brokers, and other service providers across countries of origin and transit. This session examined why recruitment fees remain a persistent problem in the maritime industry and what can be done to address them, drawing on the work of the Action Group on Seafarer Recruitment Costs. Moderator: Rakesh Ranjan, Programme Manager, South Asia, IHRB Speakers: – Ben Bailey, Director of Programme, Mission to Seafarers