Ensure fair and regular salary increases for Indian seafarers
The Issue
Petition for Fair and Regular Salary Increases for Indian Seafarers
We request the Government of India, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Directorate General of Shipping, shipping companies and seafarers' organisations to take urgent steps to ensure regular and meaningful salary increases for Indian seafarers.
Indian seafarers work for months away from their families, often in difficult and hazardous conditions, and play an important role in India's foreign trade and economy.
However, salary increases have not consistently kept pace with inflation and the rising cost of living in India.
A major reason why salaries appear to have increased in Indian rupee terms is the continuous depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar. This should not be considered a genuine salary increase.
For example, between 2015 and 2025, the Indian rupee depreciated substantially against the US dollar, while India's consumer prices increased by around 59%. During the same period, the ILO minimum basic wage for an Able Seafarer increased from US$592 to US$673.
Therefore, the apparent increase in INR income does not necessarily represent an equivalent improvement in the real purchasing power of Indian seafarers.
Other major seafarer nations and maritime unions regularly negotiate wage increases through collective bargaining agreements. The Philippines, the United States, China and other maritime nations have mechanisms through which seafarer wages are reviewed and increased.
We therefore request:
Regular annual or biennial review of Indian seafarers' wages.
Salary increases linked to inflation and the actual cost of living.
A mechanism to ensure that rupee depreciation is not treated as a substitute for a genuine salary increase.
Greater transparency in wage agreements and salary scales for Indian seafarers.
Periodic comparison of Indian seafarer wages with other major seafarer-supplying countries.
Appropriate representation of Indian seafarers in wage negotiations with shipowners and employers.
Indian seafarers deserve a fair salary that reflects their skills, responsibilities, risks and contribution to the Indian economy.
We request the concerned authorities to review this issue urgently and establish a fair and transparent mechanism for regular salary revision for Indian seafarers.
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The Issue
Petition for Fair and Regular Salary Increases for Indian Seafarers
We request the Government of India, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Directorate General of Shipping, shipping companies and seafarers' organisations to take urgent steps to ensure regular and meaningful salary increases for Indian seafarers.
Indian seafarers work for months away from their families, often in difficult and hazardous conditions, and play an important role in India's foreign trade and economy.
However, salary increases have not consistently kept pace with inflation and the rising cost of living in India.
A major reason why salaries appear to have increased in Indian rupee terms is the continuous depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar. This should not be considered a genuine salary increase.
For example, between 2015 and 2025, the Indian rupee depreciated substantially against the US dollar, while India's consumer prices increased by around 59%. During the same period, the ILO minimum basic wage for an Able Seafarer increased from US$592 to US$673.
Therefore, the apparent increase in INR income does not necessarily represent an equivalent improvement in the real purchasing power of Indian seafarers.
Other major seafarer nations and maritime unions regularly negotiate wage increases through collective bargaining agreements. The Philippines, the United States, China and other maritime nations have mechanisms through which seafarer wages are reviewed and increased.
We therefore request:
Regular annual or biennial review of Indian seafarers' wages.
Salary increases linked to inflation and the actual cost of living.
A mechanism to ensure that rupee depreciation is not treated as a substitute for a genuine salary increase.
Greater transparency in wage agreements and salary scales for Indian seafarers.
Periodic comparison of Indian seafarer wages with other major seafarer-supplying countries.
Appropriate representation of Indian seafarers in wage negotiations with shipowners and employers.
Indian seafarers deserve a fair salary that reflects their skills, responsibilities, risks and contribution to the Indian economy.
We request the concerned authorities to review this issue urgently and establish a fair and transparent mechanism for regular salary revision for Indian seafarers.
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Petition created on 15 September 2026