MLC 2026 Wage Inspection Campaign: Know Your Rights Before PSC Boards Your Ship

Why There Is a Focused Inspection Campaign on Seafarer Wages Right Now

Port State Control is conducting a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) specifically targeting MLC 2006 compliance — with a focus on Seafarer Employment Agreements (SEAs) and wage payment records. Liberia’s Maritime Administrator, one of the world’s largest open registries, issued Marine Advisory 10/2026 and Marine Advisory 11/2026 in May 2026 directly addressing this campaign and the most common MLC deficiencies being found during inspections.

CICs are coordinated efforts across the major Port State Control regimes — Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU, and others — where inspectors give specific additional scrutiny to a targeted area on every vessel they board during the campaign period. When the campaign focuses on wages and SEAs, it means every vessel you are on during this period is more likely to have your paperwork, your pay records, and your employment agreement examined in detail.

For seafarers, this is both an opportunity and a reminder: knowing your rights under MLC 2006 is not just useful for a complaint situation — it is part of being employable on well-managed vessels and staying off detained ships.

What the MLC 2006 Entitles You To

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006, now ratified by countries covering over 97% of the world’s gross tonnage, sets minimum standards across five areas. The wage and SEA provisions are among the most enforceable:

Your Seafarer Employment Agreement

Every seafarer must have a written SEA before joining a vessel. It must include your name and date of birth, the shipowner’s name and address, where and when the agreement begins, your capacity on board, the amount of your wages or the formula for calculating them, the amount of paid annual leave, conditions for termination, the health and social security protections you are covered by, and entitlement to repatriation. If you do not have a written, signed SEA, the ship is already non-compliant. Keep a copy yourself — not just onboard.

Wage Payment Requirements

Wages must be paid at no greater than monthly intervals. Allotments to a seafarer’s nominated recipient (family members, bank accounts) must be paid at no greater than monthly intervals if requested. A full account of wages must be provided to each seafarer in a form they can understand, showing gross pay, deductions, and net payment. If your wages are being held, delayed, or deducted without written explanation, this is an MLC violation.

Minimum Wage

The ITF-negotiated minimum monthly wage for an able seafarer is updated regularly. As of 2026, the IMO/ILO Joint Maritime Commission minimum for able seafarers stands at approximately $673 per month basic wage (the global floor — most CBA-covered vessels pay substantially more). If you are receiving less than the applicable minimum, you have grounds for a PSC complaint.

The Most Common MLC Deficiencies Found During PSC Inspections

Liberia’s Marine Advisory 11/2026 summarises the most frequently cited MLC non-conformances found during PSC inspections globally. These are the issues inspectors are trained to find and flag:

• Incomplete or unsigned SEA — Missing a required clause, unsigned by either party, or not provided in a language the seafarer understands. This is one of the most common findings.
• Wage account deficiencies — Wage accounts not provided, provided in a format the seafarer cannot understand, or not showing deduction breakdowns clearly.
• Delayed or irregular wage payments — Wages paid significantly after the month-end due date, or payments made in a form that does not comply with the seafarer’s allotment instructions.
• Missing MLC certification — Vessels over 500GT on international voyages must carry a current Maritime Labour Certificate and Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC). Missing, expired, or incomplete DMLC is a straightforward detainable deficiency.
• Rest hours violations — Hours of rest records not kept, or records clearly inconsistent with the operational reality on board. This overlaps with STCW hours of rest requirements and is heavily targeted.
• Inadequate repatriation provisions — No evidence that repatriation costs and arrangements are in place. Particularly scrutinised on vessels with limited flag state support infrastructure.
• Crew accommodation standards — Inadequate sleeping space, ventilation, sanitation, or recreational facilities relative to MLC Title 3 requirements.

What to Do If You Suspect MLC Violations on Your Vessel

MLC 2006 specifically provides seafarers with the right to complain to the competent authority of the port state without going through the shipowner first. This is a direct, legal right. The complaint pathway is:

Step 1: Internal Complaint First (if safe to do so)

MLC requires vessels to have an onboard complaint procedure. If the issue can be raised without fear of retaliation, use it. Document what you reported and when.

Step 2: PSC Complaint in Port

In any MLC signatory port, you can report an MLC violation directly to the Port State Control authority. PSC inspectors are required to investigate seafarer complaints confidentially where requested. The flag state must also be notified. You cannot be dismissed or penalised by your employer for making a good-faith MLC complaint to a PSC authority.

Step 3: ITF Inspector

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has inspectors in major ports worldwide. ITF inspectors have authority to examine SEAs, wage records, and working conditions on ITF-affiliated vessels (those operating under an ITF-approved CBA). They can also apply pressure on non-CBA vessels. Find your nearest ITF inspector at itfseafarers.org — the service is free.

Step 4: Flag State Complaint

Every MLC signatory flag state must provide a mechanism for seafarers to lodge complaints. The Liberia Maritime Administrator, for example, has a 24-hour welfare helpline specifically for MLC complaints from seafarers on Liberian-flagged vessels.

Protecting Yourself Before You Board

The current PSC campaign is a reminder that your rights exist and are being actively enforced. Before joining any vessel:

• Read your SEA in full before signing it — take time to understand every clause
• Verify that the wage amount matches what you were verbally offered and that deductions are itemised
• Check that the vessel carries a current Maritime Labour Certificate — ask to see it if you have any doubt
• Know the ITF contact for the port of departure
• Keep a personal copy of your SEA off the vessel (email it to yourself)

Adding complete employment history and certification records to your Crew Connect profile also helps prospective employers verify your background quickly, which tends to filter for operators who take compliance seriously.