Filipino Seafarer’s Equal Pay Victory Arrives Posthumously

Filipino Seafarer’s Equal Pay Victory Arrives Posthumously
Associate Editor November 29, 2025 https://maritimefairtrade.org/filipino-seafarers-equal-pay-victory-arriv...

A Filipino seafarer made strides in advocating for equal pay for all nationalities working on Dutch ships, successfully prompting the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights to acknowledge discrimination based on nationality and race in compensation. Tragically, he passed away three months prior to seeing the outcome that may have influenced the lives of other seafarers.

The Institute’s judgment, released on August 18, concluded that shipowners had no valid reason for paying Filipino workers less than their European counterparts, a practice rooted in a long-standing “country of residence” principle. This principle had previously justified wage disparities, claiming alignment with living costs in different nations. However, nearly three decades later, the Institute noted that circumstances had changed, asserting that the shipowners couldn’t provide justifiable reasons for continuing these discriminatory pay practices.

The Equal Justice Equal Pay Foundation, which championed the seafarer’s case, expressed hope that Dutch shipowners would implement the necessary changes to end discrimination. Without reforms, they signaled a willingness to pursue legal action.

In 2024, the seafarer shared his grim diagnosis of chronic lacunar infarct, likely linked to years of stressful work on a chemical tanker. He narrated a stroke incident aboard ship, where inadequate medical assistance was provided by the shipowners. Before his death on May 19, 2025, he expressed hope that his case could pave the way for a better future for both seafarers and land-based migrant workers.

In a poignant letter, his wife emphasized the need for a discrimination-free world for their children, ages 11 and 3. Despite her husband’s struggle with illness, she expressed hope that his legacy would symbolize resilience.

This case resonates particularly because Filipinos, along with other non-European nationalities, had historically been compensated less than European seafarers. The contradiction arose from Dutch law, which allowed for indirect discrimination under particular conditions to protect the maritime industry’s viability. Still, the Institute argued that the current state of the maritime sector could not justify wage disparities today.

Before his passing, the seafarer passionately conveyed to the Institute that the issue of unequal pay was straightforward — emphasizing their humanity and the unjust notion that they were lesser than their European colleagues due to nationality or skin color. He raised questions about the rationale behind their treatment, seeking answers rooted in equality.

As the Netherlands is a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention, which endorses equal remuneration for all seafarers, the Institute’s ruling echoes international principles, although its authority remains advisory. Yet, the case represents a pivotal moment for Filipino and other non-European seafarers, as it casts light on long-standing injustices in a sector that relies heavily on their labor.

His story, as articulated by his wife, is shared by countless others and highlights the pressing need for justice in the treatment of workers regardless of nationality. The couple’s journey underscores not just individual struggle but a collective hope for change within the maritime industry.