US firms to hire 75K Filipino seafarers

US firms to hire 75K Filipino seafarers
Kristina Maralit May 4, 2023 https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/05/04/news/national/us-firms-to-hire-75...

WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s meeting with Carnival Corp. on early Wednesday (Manila time) will lead to the hiring of around 75,000 Filipino seafarers in the next three to four years.

John Padget, president and CEO of Carnival Corp., said his group of companies was looking to hire mariners and other workers from the Philippines, pointing to their hospitality and competitiveness in the global workforce.

Padget also represents Carnival Cruise Line, Holland American Airlines and Seaborn.

"It doesn't matter whether it's the marine, deck, hospitality, restaurant ... everything is based on the happiness, the smile and the greatness of the Filipino employees," he said.

Marcos thanked the US firm for its continued confidence in Filipino professionals and skilled workers.

The President was joined by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, and Defense Officer in Charge Carlito Galvez Jr.

Carnival Corp.'s announcement came a month after the European Commission ruled to continue recognizing Philippine-issued training certificates, lauding the Marcos administration's efforts to comply with European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) standards.

This includes the creation of a body to ensure that the country complies with EMSA evaluation and passes the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

The President previously vowed that the Philippine government would continue to "remedy all of the deficiencies that EMSA has been pointing out" to ensure the country "continues to develop world-class and skilled seafarers for the whole world."