Unpaid wages

If your wages are late or short: keep copies of your SEA, wage account, time sheets, and all correspondence. Contact an ITF inspector in the port you're in (or the next port if your current one has none).

Step-by-step

1. Keep the original SEA, any wage accounts received, and screenshots of any office correspondence.
2. Request a formal wage statement from the Master in writing.
3. Contact the ITF inspector in the next port with inspector coverage (findable at itfseafarers.org/en/contact-us/find-an-itf-inspector).
4. If the flag state is an ITF Flag of Convenience, the ITF TCC CBA minimum scale applies regardless of the individual SEA.
5. If the owner refuses to pay, the inspector can arrange a Notice of Intent to Arrest via the port's admiralty court.

Evidence to save

• Original SEA + photo backup
• Wage accounts for every pay period (MLC A2.2(2))
• Allotment payment receipts from your family's bank
• Time sheets / hours-of-work records signed by master
• Written demands sent to master + shore office (email + WhatsApp screenshots)
• Photo of the applicable CBA reference on board

What NOT to sign

• Wage account showing deductions you have not authorised — endorse "signed under protest"
• Release of claims in exchange for owed wages
• Side-letter accepting a wage below the SEA or applicable CBA
• Quittance on sign-off if wages remain outstanding

Legal basis

MLC 2006, Regulation 2.2. ITF TCC Collective Agreement sets the global minimum wage floor. Flag state can be held financially liable via its MLC financial security.

Primary sources

• MLC 2006 Reg 2.2 + Std A2.2 (ILO NORMLEX)
• ITF — Find an inspector
• ITF Collective Agreements (TCC reference)
• Rights pillar: unpaid wages

Organisations that can help

• ISWAN SeafarerHelp
  Global · 24/7
  📞 +44 800 012 1004
  💬 WhatsApp +44 7909 470732
• ITF Inspectorate — London (Global Coordinating)
  Global · Mon-Fri 9-17 GMT, after-hours via inspector network
  📞 +44 20 7403 2733
• ITF Seafarers
  Global · 24/7 for emergencies
  📞 +44 20 7403 2733
• Nautilus International — UK 24-hour helpline
  Europe · 24/7
  📞 +44 20 8989 6677
• AMOSUP (Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines)
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Sat 8-17 PHT
  📞 +63 2 8527 8491
• NUSI (National Union of Seafarers of India)
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9:30-18 IST
  📞 +91 22 6798 3636
• MUI (Maritime Union of India)
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 10-18 IST
  📞 +91 22 2202 8898
• MTWTU (Maritime Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine)
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 EET
  📞 +380 48 728 65 92
• ISWAN Yacht Crew Helpline
  Global · 24/7
  📞 +44 20 7323 2737
• ISWAN Australia
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9-17 AEST
  📞 +61 1800 071 217
• ISWAN Singapore (SeafarerHelp Asia)
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9-18 SGT
  📞 +65 6478 5111
• ITF Inspector — Piraeus, Greece
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 EET
  📞 +30 210 4286 222
• ITF Inspector — Rotterdam, Netherlands
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 CET, on-call after-hours
  📞 +31 6 53 18 91 36
• ITF Inspector — Singapore
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9-18 SGT
  📞 +65 6379 5660
• ITF Inspector — Houston, USA
  Americas · Mon-Fri 9-17 CT
  📞 +1 832 922 6890
• DG Shipping (India) — Seafarer Grievance Redressal Cell
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9:30-18 IST
  📞 +91 22 2575 2040
• AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) — Crew Welfare
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 8-17 AEST
  📞 +61 2 6279 5000
• MCA (UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency) — Seafarer Welfare
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 GMT, 24/7 distress via HM Coastguard
  📞 +44 20 3817 2000
• ITF Inspectorate — Find your nearest inspector
  Global · Varies by port
• ISWAN Africa Network
  Africa · Refer to ISWAN SeafarerHelp 24/7
  📞 +44 800 012 1004
• ITF Nigeria Inspectorate
  Africa · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +234 1 587 1920
• ITF South Africa Inspectorate
  Africa · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +27 31 301 4108
• ITF Egypt Inspectorate (Suez/Port Said)
  Middle East · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +20 62 333 0102
• ITF UAE Inspectorate
  Middle East · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +971 4 880 4684
• AMOSUP — Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines
  South-East Asia · Office hours
  📞 +63 2 8527 8491
• Nautilus International — Netherlands office
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 CET
  📞 +31 10 477 1188
• Nautilus International — Switzerland office
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 CET
  📞 +41 22 731 65 22
• KPI (Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia)
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 8-17 WIB
  📞 +62 21 4391 1313
• Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA)
  Americas · Mon-Fri 9-17 ET
  📞 +1 410 269 1100
• USCG Investigative Service — Seafarer Welfare Reports
  Americas · Mon-Fri 8-17 ET
  📞 +1 202 372 2100
• Seafarers International Union (SIU) — USA
  Americas · Mon-Fri 9-17 ET
  📞 +1 301 899 0675
• ver.di — German maritime workers desk
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 CET
  📞 +49 40 2858 4150
• ITF Saudi Arabia (correspondent)
  Middle East · Office hours, escalate via London 24/7
  📞 +44 20 7403 2733
• National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI)
  South Asia · Office hours
  📞 +91 22 2261 3361
• ITF Turkey Inspectorate
  Mediterranean · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +90 212 244 4228
• ITF Greece (PNO)
  Mediterranean · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +30 210 411 5226
• ITF Spain Inspectorate
  Europe · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +34 956 60 22 25
• Romanian Seafarers' Free Union (SLN)
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 EET
  📞 +40 241 619 122
• Russian Trade Union of Seafarers (RPSM)
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-18 MSK
  📞 +7 495 605 2317
• Mission to Seafarers Mombasa
  Africa · Daily 09:00–21:00
  📞 +254 41 2316 156
• Mission to Seafarers Qatar
  Middle East · Daily
  📞 +974 4476 0001
• Mission to Seafarers Salalah
  Middle East · Daily
  📞 +968 2321 9999
• Sailors' Society Ghana
  Africa · Mon–Sat
  📞 +233 30 320 2225
• Mission to Seafarers Dar es Salaam
  Africa · Daily
  📞 +255 22 211 5556
• Mission to Seafarers Kuwait
  Middle East · Daily
  📞 +965 2461 5556
• Mission to Seafarers Bahrain
  Middle East · Daily
  📞 +973 1733 0440
• Mission to Seafarers Sri Lanka
  South Asia · Daily
  📞 +94 11 234 8001
• Sailors' Society Côte d'Ivoire
  Africa · Mon–Sat
  📞 +225 21 24 33 11
• Mission to Seafarers Chattogram
  South Asia · Daily
  📞 +880 31 712 600
• Mission to Seafarers Karachi
  South Asia · Daily
  📞 +92 21 9920 1551
• Mission to Seafarers Walvis Bay
  Africa · Mon–Sat
  📞 +264 64 205 511
• Mission to Seafarers Hai Phong
  South-East Asia · Mon–Sat
  📞 +84 225 384 0001
• Mission to Seafarers Indonesia
  South-East Asia · Mon–Sat
  📞 +62 21 4393 0001
• Stella Maris Constanța
  Europe (Black Sea) · Mon–Sat
  📞 +40 241 615 311
• Stella Maris Yangon
  South-East Asia · Mon–Sat
  📞 +95 1 254 060
• Mission to Seafarers Novorossiysk
  Europe (Black Sea) · Mon–Sat
  📞 +7 8617 60 00 00
• ILO MLC Complaints
  Global · Office hours (CET)
  📞 +41 22 799 7501
• Nautilus International
  UK/NL/CH · Office hours
  📞 +44 20 8989 6677
• AMOSUP (Philippines)
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +63 2 8527 8491
• DMW / OWWA (Philippines) — Seafarer welfare desk
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +63 2 8721 8532
• NUSI (India)
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +91 22 2261 2822
• MUI (India)
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +91 22 2413 2500
• KPI — Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia (Indonesian Seafarers Union)
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +62 21 4210983
• Maritime Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine
  Europe · Office hours
  📞 +380 48 728 2929
• Bangladesh Seafarers Welfare Organisation
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +880 31 710 580
• Pakistan Merchant Navy Officers Association
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +92 21 3562 4621
• Sri Lanka Director General of Merchant Shipping — welfare desk
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +94 11 258 7215
• Myanmar Maritime Workers Federation
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
• Seafarers' Rights International
  Global · Office hours
  📞 +44 20 7253 0161
• SINDMAR (Brazil) — Sindicato Nacional dos Oficiais da Marinha Mercante
  Americas · Office hours
  📞 +55 21 2253 4343

Disclaimer. General information only — not legal advice. Rules vary by flag state, port state, vessel type, applicable CBA, and contract. For specific cases, contact ITF, ISWAN, your union, or a maritime lawyer.