UFS president Nelson Ramirez says manning agencies should not pay the board and lodging expenses of returning crewmen

DOLE order for manning agencies to pay for seafarers’ lodging hit
Tina G. Santos - June 02, 2020 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1284646/dole-order-for-manning-agencies-to...

MANILA, Philippines — Manning agencies are objecting to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) order compelling recruitment and manning agencies to shoulder the board and lodging expenses of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), saying that such policy may lead to their bankruptcy.

“They would have to spend millions every day for that. Why doesn’t the government use the Filipino seafarers’ P7 billion trust fund with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration?” said United Filipino Seafarers president Nelson Ramirez said.

“There is nowhere in the Maritime Labor Convention that after the seafarers finished their contracts the manning agency shall cover their expenses for their hotels. Medical care board and ship and ashore are for those seafarers who are sick on board the ship or when they are brought ashore while still serving their contracts,” Ramirez explained.

see also
PH manning agencies cry foul over DOLE order
Betheena Unite June 9, 2020 https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/06/09/ph-manning-agencies-cry-foul-over-dole...