Kin of missing sailors in Japan facing legal complications

Kin of missing sailors in Japan facing legal complications
Recto Mercene November 2, 2020 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/11/02/kin-of-missing-sailors-in-japan...

THE families of 36 seamen aboard a cattle ship that was lost at sea in Japan two months ago are facing a very bleak future as their employer, Gulf Navigation, has stopped paying their salaries.

This, as legal issues are preventing the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) from implementing its mandate to provide assistance.

Death compensation benefits are due to families of the victims after four years from presumption of death. That is also the time that family members can file for death claims, according to maritime insurance law cited by recruitment consultant, Manny Geslani.

He added, “even the mandatory insurance benefits paid for by the manning agency, amounting to $50,000 and $7,000 for each orphaned child below the age 18 for each family of the missing seafarers will take a few years to be released.”

Mary Joy Fortun, wife of one of the missing seamen, reported the Gulf Navigation’s withholding of her missing husband’s salary before the House Committee on Overseas Affairs recently. She appealed to the body and the government to continue the search for any missing survivors.

Geslanie said Korphil Manning International is the local manning agency for the Filipino seafarers, “but so far no financial assistance has been given to the families of the missing crew.”

Pope Francis has sent a donation to the crew of the cargo ship, according to the Vatican News.

The Pope’s aid with a small personal gift will be delivered personally to the families of the missing and the two survivors to “show his closeness and solidarity,” the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said in a statement.