What Should Crew Members Do If They Don't Receive Their Salary?

In general, crew members working in the maritime industry receive their salaries on a monthly basis, as clearly stated in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). If crew members do not receive their salary on time, they have the right to file a complaint and follow the correct procedures.

Steps to Take If Crew Members Do Not Receive Their Salary

According to Article A2.2 of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), crew members must be paid at least once per month. If a crew member has worked for more than a month and has not received their salary, it may indicate a problem in the payment system. The first step the crew member should take is:

Contact the company or office immediately – Sometimes the issue may be due to a clerical error, such as entering the wrong code, or a technical issue within the payroll system. These can be easily fixed, and the salary may be paid along with the next month's payment.

If the company is unable to pay – If contacting the company reveals that they deliberately refuse to pay, or are facing financial difficulties preventing them from paying, crew members can file a complaint with relevant organizations such as the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) or take legal action under maritime law (MLC).

Filing a Complaint with ITF

The ITF is an international organization that protects the rights and welfare of seafarers worldwide. If crew members do not receive their salary as expected, they can file a complaint with the ITF, which has a global network and can provide legal and welfare assistance. Crew members can submit a complaint through the link in the details: ITF Seafarers Support

Conclusion

When a crew member does not receive their salary on time, the first step is to contact the company to inquire about the issue. In most cases, it may be a minor issue that can be easily resolved. However, if the company deliberately withholds the salary, crew members should file a complaint through ITF or MLC to receive assistance and prevent this from happening to other crew members.

Hopefully, there will be no news of Thai crew members working without receiving their salary, as raising complaints and protecting their rights will help others avoid unjust companies.