Where a seafarer who has signed an agreement is discharged otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the agreement,

(a) before the commencement of the voyage, or

(b) before one month's wages are earned, without the seafarer's fault or consent, the seafarer is entitled to receive from the master or owner, in addition to the wages the seafarer might have earned, due compensation for the damage caused to the seafarer by the discharge, not exceeding one month's wages; and the seafarer may recover that compensation as if it were wages duly earned.