Philippines to probe alleged trafficking of Filipino fishermen to Namibia

Philippines to probe alleged trafficking of Filipino fishermen to Namibia
Michelle Abad Mar 28, 2023 https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/philippines-investigat...

The Department of Migrant Workers says the seafarers testified to working 36 hours straight with only two meals a day
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine anti-trafficking authorities are set to investigate an alleged human trafficking case involving 36 Filipino fishermen who were made to work in the waters of Namibia reportedly under poor labor conditions.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday, March 28, announced that it had endorsed the case to the Department of Justice and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for investigation and appropriate action.

According to affidavits of 26 repatriated seafarers, they believed that they would be working in Taiwan, but their group eventually ended up fishing in Namibia, a country in southern Africa.

“Based on the testimonies that we gathered, the fishermen were sometimes made to work for 36 hours straight with only two meals a day, and an average of four hours of sleep. Their identity papers including passports and seamen’s books were kept away from the workers which is a blatant violation of the rights of these seafarers,” said Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople.