Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.7837/kosomes.2021.27.7.1038

Designing a Blockchain-based Smart Contract for Seafarer Wage Payment  

Yoo, Sang-Lok (Research Institute, Future Ocean Information Technology, Inc.)
Kim, Kwang-Il (College of Ocean Sciences, Jeju National University)
Ahn, Jang-Young (College of Ocean Sciences, Jeju National University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety / v.27, no.7, 2021 , pp. 1038-1043 More about this Journal
Abstract
Guaranteed seafarer wage payment is essential to ensure a stable supply of seafarers. However, disputes over non-payment of wages to seafarers often occur. In this study, an automatic wage payment system was designed using a blockchain-based smart contract to resolve the problem of seafarers' wage arrears. The designed system consists of an information register, a matching processing unit, a review rating management unit, and wage remittance before deploying smart contracts. The matching process was designed to send an automatic notification to seafarers and shipowners if the sum of the weight of the four variables, namely wages, ship type/fishery, position, and license, exceeded a pre-defined threshold. In addition, a review rating management system, based on a combination of mean and median, was presented to serve as a medium to mutually fulfill the normal working conditions. The smart contract automatically fulfills the labor contract between the parties without an intermediary. This system will naturally resolve problems such as fraudulent advance payment to seafarers, embezzlement by unregistered employment agencies, overdue wages, and forgery of seafarers' books. If this system design is commercialized and institutionally activated, it is expected that stable wages will be guaranteed to seafarers, and in turn, the difficulties in human resources supply will be solved. We plan to test it in a local environment for further developing this system.
Keywords
Seafarer; Shipowner; Overdue wage; Blokchain; Smart contract; Labor contract;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Nakamoto, S.(2008), Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. Decentralized Business Review, pp. 1-9.
2 Shin, S. C.(2014), A Study on the Current State of Foreign Seamen's (China, Vietnam, Indonesia) Working Conditions and Crimes, Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 161-192.   DOI
3 Song. C. W.(2015), Priority Protection of Wages of Seamen - with Focuses on Maritime Lien and Priority Wage Claim, Law Review, Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 1-29.
4 Park, S. B.(2008), A Study on Status and Reform of Labor Condition for Coastal and Offshore Fishermen in Korean Seafarer Act, Graduate of Mokpo National Maritime University, Master Thesis, pp. 1-105.
5 Segye(2021), Segyeilbo, http://www.segye.com/newsView/20210209510453?OutUrl=naver.
6 Jung, G. Y.(2020), The Nature of the Central Bank Issued Digital Currency (CBDC) and its Legal Embrace, The Korean Journal of Financial Law, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 33-78.
7 Szabo, N.(1996), Smart Contracts: Building Blocks for Digital Markets. EXTROPY: The Journal of Transhumanist Thought, Vol, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 1-11.
8 BOK(2021), Bank of Korea, Press Release, https://www.bok.or.kr/portal/bbs/P0000559/view.do?nttId=10064600&menuNo=200690.
9 Chosun(2020), Chosunilbo, https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/06/11/2020061103544.html?utm_source=naver&utm_medium=original&utm_campaign=news.
10 Jeong, S. Y.(2016), A Study on Improvement Working Conditions of Pelagic Sailors, Graduate School of Pukyung National University, Master Thesis, pp. 1-76.
11 KCG(2019), Korea Coast Guard, Press Release, http://www.kcg.go.kr/kcg/na/ntt/selectNttInfo.do?nttSn=9423.
12 Kim, D. I.(2007), Seamen Act, Korean Lawculture Institute, p. 357.
13 Kookmin(2018), Koominilbo, http://news.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0012535668&code=61121111&cp=nv.
14 Kyunghyang(2019), Kyunghyangshinmun, https://www.khan.co.kr/national/incident/article/201903261631001.
15 Lee, J. W.(2015), A Study on the Nature and Ways of Differentiating Levies of Seafarers' Wage Claim Guarantee Fund, Korea Commercial Cases Association, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 95-143.
16 MOF(2020), Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Press Release, https://www.mof.go.kr/article/view.do?articleKey=32614&boardKey=10.
17 MOF(2021), Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Press Release, https://www.mof.go.kr/article/view.do?articleKey=38775&boardKey=10.
18 Yun, M. H.(2012), Study on Foreign Fishermen's Immigration and Adjustment in Jeju, Graduate School of Jeju National University, Master Thesis, pp. 1-95.
19 Park, M. K.(2010), A Study on the Protection of Seafarers' Claims in the Event of Insolvency of their Shipowner, The Korea Institute of Marine Law, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 1-32.