Panama recovers $8.5 million in unpaid seafarer wages in 2024

Panama recovers $8.5 million in unpaid seafarer wages in 2024
Marcus Hand May 22, 2025 https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/crewing/panama-recovers-8-5-million-in...

Last year saw more than 50% rise in the amount of unpaid crew wages recovered by the Panama Maritime Authority underscoring the scale of the problem.

Unfortunately, the issue of unpaid seafarer wages persists in the shipping industry and could well be getting worse if figures from the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA), which administers one of the world’s largest flag states are anything to go by.

The authority highlighted the collection of $8.5 million in unpaid seafarer wages recovered in 2024 in a visit by International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) delegates to the General Directorate of Seafarers (DGGM).

The figure recovered by the PMA is 52.7% more than the $5.59 million recovered in the previous year.

Now while the authority attributed the higher number to “Panama’s commitment as a responsible maritime administration to ensuring decent work and compliance with international labor standards”, it also underscores a worrying trend of continued poor treatment of seafarers.

In January this year the ITF reported that abandonment of seafarers was spiralling out of control, increasing nearly two-fold with 3,133 seafarers abandoned by ship-owners in 2024 compared to 1,676 in 2023.

In 2024 the PMA handling of 271 inquiries and 312 labour-related complaints, which facilitated the safe repatriation of 368 crew members of various nationalities.

Steve Trowsdale, ITF Inspectorate Coordinator, commended Panama particularly for its management of labour complaints and the recovery of owed wages.

“Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, the PMA reaffirms its commitment to the rigorous enforcement of national regulations and international conventions ratified by Panama,” the authority said.