Lead
An investigation by ABC News has brought to light allegations of poor working conditions and low pay on Carnival cruise ships, prompting Australia's Anti-Slavery Commissioner to call for legal reform. The reports describe crew members working long hours for minimal wages, with some forced to endure substandard food and living conditions.
Coverage Comparison
ABC News, Australia's public broadcaster, has published at least two reports on the conditions aboard Carnival ships operating in Australian waters. One report details allegations from crew members of extreme working hours, medical neglect, and being forced to eat rotten buffet leftovers. Another report focuses on the regulatory exemption that allows foreign-flagged cruise ships to circumvent Australian labor laws and the response from Anti-Slavery Commissioner Chris Evans.
The reports are consistent in their findings, with both emphasizing the low pay and long hours endured by crew. They also both quote Carnival's response to the allegations, which was a statement referring to the company having "nothing to hide."
Key Claims
Working Hours and Pay
Crew working on Carnival's Australian ships told ABC News they work 12 hours a day, seven days a week for almost all of their nine-month contracts. A contract seen by the ABC from 2025 shows one worker being paid just US$23.26 (AU$33) a day. Based on a 12-hour working day, this amounts to an average daily wage of $2.75 an hour, with occasional tips from customers. Queen Onuoha, a former crew member from Nigeria who worked as a beauty specialist on the Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, said she often worked 14-hour days and bought caffeine tablets to stay awake during shifts.
Food and Living Conditions
Crew members alleged they were forced to eat rotten leftovers and pay for bottled water, while passengers are promised a week without eating the same thing twice. The Maritime Union of Australia has received hundreds of complaints about working and living conditions onboard in the past year, according to ABC News.
Legal Exemption and Calls for Reform
Foreign-flagged cruise ships, such as those operated by Carnival, are exempt from the Fair Work Act when travelling between Australian ports, due to an exemption from licensing requirements. This exemption was introduced as a 'temporary' measure in 1998 and has been renewed every few years since. Anti-Slavery Commissioner Chris Evans told ABC News that "fundamentally the situation ought to be that ships that are working through Australian ports ought to be applying conditions that are on a par with Australian conditions." Asked if the exemption should be rolled back, Evans said, "I think some change in this area is long overdue."
International Standards
The International Maritime Labour Convention sets minimum standards for working conditions, including rest hours and the right to collective bargaining, which applies to Carnival cruise ships, as reported by ABC News.
Perspectives
Anti-Slavery Commissioner Chris Evans
Chris Evans, Australia's inaugural Anti-Slavery Commissioner, argues that foreign-flagged cruise ships operating in Australian waters should apply working conditions on par with Australian standards. He described the current exemption as a temporary measure that has been renewed repeatedly since 1998, and called for change in the legal protections for workers on these ships.
Carnival Corporation
In response to ABC News' questions about workers' pay, a Carnival spokesperson referred to a statement the company provided in February, which said: "Carnival has nothing to hide." The company did not provide a further response to the allegations of poor conditions.
Crew Members
Several crew members working on Carnival's Australian ships told ABC News about their experiences, including long workdays, low pay, and being forced to eat rotten leftovers. One former crew member, Queen Onuoha, described working 14-hour days and using caffeine tablets to stay awake during shifts. Their accounts form the basis of the allegations against Carnival.