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For a period of three to six months, the crew, primarily consisting of Indian national seafarers onboard the vessel, were unable to send money home, and their urgent requests for their wages to be paid were ignored. The vessel was also experiencing low bunker and fresh water levels.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation had informed the Local Unions of the arrest of MT Folk Beauty at one of the Singapore shipyards by Sheriff Court on 21 March. SMOU contacted the vessel Master and explored options that the crew could exercise to get back their wages. The Master attempted to get the shipowners and managers to respond to the seafarers’ plight. After the final failed effort to get back their wages on 13 May, the crew sought help from the Singapore unions.
Together with their lawyers, SMOU President Rahim Jaffar, and Industrial Relations Officer Kelvin Lin went onboard on 17 May to help the crew file their claims via legal representation. After much pressure from various parties, the bank’s lawyers sought approval from the court to pay the crew’s outstanding wages.
On 28 June, the Sheriff’s agent and bank’s lawyers, together with the Union officials, witnessed the payout to all the crew onboard. They were also given their air tickets to be repatriated home the next day. The crew felt immense relief that the ordeal had finally ended, and they expressed gratitude to SMOU for recovering their wages.
SMOU will continue in its mission to champion seafarers’ interests and to add value to the maritime community and beyond.
“Non-payment of wages is a part of running a substandard shipping operation. Shipowners should know this and bear their responsibility of paying the crew on time.”
– Mr Rahim Jaffar, SMOU President
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