Pratik Bijlani –
The Leo Barnes Union of Seafarers of India (LUSI) intensified its long-standing advocacy for fairer seafarer employment conditions during a meeting with the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) held on 12 December. The meeting marked a significant step in LUSI’s sustained efforts over the past two years to push for a comprehensive revision of seafarers’ contracts, which the union argues have become outdated and restrictive, failing to reflect present-day realities of the maritime profession.
The union formally submitted thousands of individual representations from seafarers, collected via Google Forms since 15 November last year. These submissions, amounting to approximately 15 books and nearly 5,000 pages, were handed over in person to DG Shipping, Mr Shyam Jagannathan, IAS. The discussions were held with senior officials from the Crew Branch, including Capt PC Meena, DDG, and Capt Nitin Mukesh, DDG, along with other departmental representatives. LUSI was represented by its Maharashtra State Executive Committee members, including Mr Sohel Dakway, Mr. Santosh Gulab Bankar, Mr Ratheef Wilson, and other members, led by Mr LP Vimalson, General Secretary and Founder of LUSI.
Central to the submission was a detailed document outlining multiple grievances related to seafarers’ wages and conditions, submitted earlier under Ref: LUSI/DGS/CBACOMM/2023. The union called for a minimum 10 percent wage increment in the forthcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), pointing out that current increments of 2–3 percent are inadequate in light of rising living costs and increased freight earnings for shipowners. LUSI also raised concerns over overtime practices, emphasizing that seafarers remain on board vessels round the clock and should be fairly compensated for extended hours, emergency duties, and hazardous working conditions.
Other key demands included rational and transparent overtime calculations, mandatory maintenance of onboard overtime records, seniority allowances for experienced seafarers, and fair compensation for physically demanding and high-risk tasks such as tank cleaning, hatch cleaning, and cargo lashing. The union also highlighted issues related to repatriation expenses, grievance redressal mechanisms on board ships, improved internet connectivity for crew welfare, and the need to protect long-serving seafarers who function effectively as permanent employees despite being on contract.
Mr Vimalson underscored broader structural concerns affecting seafarers, including prolonged contract durations, reduced manning levels, and increased workloads without commensurate wage adjustments. He stressed that contracts which once ran for nine months should now be shortened to allow seafarers adequate family time, warning that current practices amount to exploitation. Calling for stronger regulatory intervention, he urged the Government of India and DG Shipping to centralize oversight of seafarer agreements, abolish fragmented individual contracts, and ensure inclusive representation in wage-setting discussions.
Mr Vimalson said this during the meeting with DG Shipping “Through LUSI, we are giving seafarers a collective voice to highlight real, long-pending issues—outdated contracts, reduced manning, and unfair wages—and placing these concerns directly before the DG Shipping so that seafarer welfare is protected through proper regulation and government oversight.”
LUSI noted that it will present the same set of demands to the Minister of Shipping during a scheduled meeting in Delhi on 18 December, urging seafarers across the country to continue submitting their representations in support of collective reform and long-term welfare of the maritime workforce.
Marex Media