Indonesian seafarers stranded for months face unpaid wages, legal limbo, and family hardship
What should have been a steady overseas job has turned into months of uncertainty for Indonesian sailors stranded thousands of miles from home, exposing deep cracks in protections for migrant maritime workers.
Abandoned at a Foreign Port
Surono, a 47-year-old Indonesian sailor, has spent months living aboard a docked fishing vessel in Mindelo, Cape Verde, after the ship’s owner allegedly abandoned the crew without paying their salaries. Speaking to AFP, Surono said he and his shipmates were left with a painful choice: return home without nearly a year’s wages or remain stranded in hopes of being paid.
Promises Broken After Months at Sea
Surono joined the Portuguese-flagged tuna longliner Novo Ruivo in March 2025, flying from Indonesia to Namibia to work as an engine technician. When the vessel docked in Cape Verde in September 2025 to offload its catch, the owner reportedly left with the crew’s passports and failed to pay their wages, leaving them stuck at the port.
Wages Owed and Families Struggling
Earning US$1,200 per month, Surono is owed about US$13,200, which is approximately S$16,900, after months without pay. The income is more than eight times the minimum wage in his hometown of Tegal, Central Java. His wife, Kiki Andriani, told AFP the family has fallen into debt, while their children struggle to attend school due to unpaid fees.
A Growing Global Problem
According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation, seafarer abandonment reached record levels in 2025, with around 6,200 crew members stranded across 410 ships worldwide. Under International Labour Organisation standards, a ship is considered abandoned when owners cut ties, fail to pay wages for at least two months, or do not cover repatriation costs.
Legal Gray Areas at Sea
The ITF has reported the Novo Ruivo case to authorities and contacted the Indonesian embassy in Dakar. While repatriation was offered, the crew refused, fearing they would never recover their unpaid wages. The ITF is now exploring legal options, including seeking a court order to seize and sell the vessel to settle debts.
Weak Enforcement in the Fishing Industry
Although fishing crews are covered under the ILO Work in Fishing Convention 188, labor advocates say enforcement remains weak. The ship owner, Javier Martinez of Somar Produtos do Mar, denied abandoning the crew, saying he provides basic supplies and small stipends. Crew members dispute this, noting they caught significant amounts of fish yet remain unpaid.
The case highlights persistent gaps in labor protection for migrant seafarers, many of whom come from Indonesia and neighboring countries. As global demand for seafood grows, stronger enforcement and cross-border cooperation are increasingly critical to prevent exploitation and protect the livelihoods of workers who sustain the industry.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , France24 (2026)
Keywords: Indonesian Sailors, Ship Abandonment, Unpaid Wages, Fishing Industry, Labor Protection
