You are here  Seafarer's Welfare Fund

1.0   The Regulations

The Seafarer’s Welfare Fund was established by way of Regulations under section 119 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1986, as subsequently amended to provide welfare facilities to active and retired seafarers, as well as their families.

2.0   The Objectives

The objectives of the Fund are as follows:

(a)  to ensure that welfare facilities and services are provided for all seafarers, irrespective of nationality, race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion or social origin and irrespective of state in which the ship on which they are employed is registered;

(b)  to periodically assess and review the adequacy of existing welfare facilities for seafarers;

(c)  to provide for such additional facilities or withdrawal of such under utilized facilities as may be necessary;

(d)  to assist and advise those responsible for providing welfare facilities and to ensure coordination between them;

(e)  to ensure that adequate and regular financial support is provided to seafarer’s welfare facilities and services;

(f)   to develop schemes and projects for the welfare of seafarers;

(g)  to manage the Fund to ensure that it is solely used for the purpose for which it has been set up;

(h)  to undertake such things as appear requisite and advantageous for the furtherance of the objects and functions of the Fund.

3.0   The Composition of Management Committee

The Fund is managed by a Management Committee and is presently made up as follows:

4.0   Welfare Schemes

With a view to improve the standard of living of seafarers and their families, the Fund has introduced a series of welfare schemes, as follows:

(A)   Medical Treatment Grant Scheme (treatment abroad)

A nonrefundable one-off grant of a sum of up to Rs 50,000 is paid to a seafarer to undergo medical treatment/operation abroad that cannot be performed in Mauritius.

(B)   Death Grant Scheme

A death grant is paid to the immediate heir/next of kin of the active or retired seafarer who passes away.   Payments are as follows:

        (i)    A sum of Rs 10,000 to the next of kin or spouse of the deceased seafarer having no child;
        (ii)   A sum of Rs 15,000 to the spouse having one child; and
        (iii)  A sum of Rs 20,000 to the spouse having two or more children.

(C)    Social Aid Scheme

A sum of up to Rs 5,000 is paid to any active/retired seafarer who suffers damage from unfortunate occurrences, such as cyclone, flood, fire, tsunami etc, to purchase basic necessities.

(D)   Educational welfare Scheme (vocational & post-secondary)

Under this scheme the dependent children of active and retired seafarers who are attending a vocational or post-secondary educational institution on a full time or part time basis are paid a monthly stipend, with effect from January 2006.  The stipend is based on attendance and payments are as follows:-

        Full-time Student:   Rs 2,000 per month

        Part-time Student:  Rs 1,000 per month

(E)   60^th Birthday Gift Scheme

Under this scheme, a cheque in the fixed sum of Rs 5,000 is paid as gift to every seafarer who reaches 60 years or has celebrated his 60^th birthday since 1 January 2006.

(F)   Educational welfare Scheme (Secondary and prevocational)

This educational scheme is meant for the dependent children of both active and retired seafarers, who are attending a secondary educational institution or a pre-vocational school on a full time basis. This scheme covers the whole period of schooling.  The benefits disbursed under this scheme are as follows:-

        (a)  a monthly stipend of Rs 200 per child; and
        (b)  a yearly allowance to purchase textbooks as indicated below:-

(G)   Medical Treatment Scheme (Local)

Under this scheme, active and retired seafarers aged 55 and above are refunded 75% of costs incurred for their medical treatment up to a maximum of Rs 3,000 per year.

(H)   Eye Treatment Scheme

Under this scheme active and retired seafarers aged 50 and above are refunded expenses incurred for eye treatment and purchase of frames for spectacles up to 75%.  The disbursement will not exceed Rs 3,000 in a two calendar years.

(I)   Normal Dental Treatment Scheme

Under this scheme, active and retired seafarers aged 50 and above are refunded up to 75% of cost incurred for normal dental treatment provided by private dentists.  The total amount of refund per year will not exceed Rs 1,000.

(J)   Stipend to attend training courses

The Fund pays a daily stipend of Rs 250 to non-sponsored seafarers attending training courses at the Sea Training School. The payment is based on attendance.

(K)   Training courses for unemployed/unqualified seafarers

The Seafarer’s Welfare Fund in collaboration with the Sea Training School is also organizing training courses for unqualified and unemployed seafarers having some experience in the field. This will enable them to obtain the required qualifications and make them employable on board ships.  A daily stipend will also be allocated to the eligible trainees.