Blacklisted Pinoy seafarer John Canias now works for ITF

Blacklisted seafarer now works for ITF
Yashika F. Torib March 12, 2025 https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/03/12/business/maritime/blacklisted-sea...

JOHN Canias, 50, used to be a seafarer. He was on his second contract as a deck cadet in 1998 when he was asked by his ship captain to sign a different set of contracts and was then forced to accept lower wages.

Canias, a young seafarer at the time, decided to right things. He invited an inspector from the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), presented the documents, and managed to collect his backpays.

It was a small win for Canias, standing up for his rights and the others around him. Or so he thought. It was until he was sent back home in the Philippines when reality struck.

He was blacklisted by his manning agency and was never to return to sea again. The cost of being right

Canias is among the thousands of Filipino seafarers who are victimized by blacklisting — a practice among shipowners or manning agencies of placing a seafarer's name on a list — formal or informal — to effectively prevent the latter from obtaining future employment.

This may be due to a variety of reasons such as participation in union activities or labor disputes and filing complaints against their employer.

In Canias' case, a small step of fighting for his rights led to interminable unemployment at sea.

"Every month, all the crew were called to the captain's cabin to sign two sets of wage accounts — one reflects the salary on the POEA contract, and the other was the salary on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the German Union and the ship owner, which is higher," Canias recalled.

"The management company was duping the union by practicing 'double booking' every time they pay us with the lower amount of salary. I later lodged my claim for unpaid wages with the ITF. The inspector was able to collect all my backpay, but the company repatriated me back to the Philippines. The manning agent also filed a case against me, trying to claim back the money I was paid.

"Then on, no manning agency would hire me, citing the case filed by my former agent," Canias lamented.

Paying forward

It was not the end of the road, though, for Canias.

His boldness eventually led him to the very same organization that helped him in the late 90s.

"I started working with the ITF in 2001. My first job was a Claims Handler, my role was to seek redress for seafarers' contractual claims. I've since moved up the ranks, and for over a decade now I've been responsible for the operational and industrial activity of our Flag of Convenience campaign, in my role as the Maritime Operations Coordinator in the ITF Collective Bargaining Agreements unit," Canias proudly said.

Today, Canias lives with his family in the United Kingdom as he serves the ITF by doing what he does best — defending the rights and welfare of those who work at sea. "I am very fortunate that I get to travel the world and meet trade unionists and members who share the same values as me — and all in the name of ensuring better jobs and pay for hundreds of thousands of seafarers around the world.
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"The world needs seafarers, and the seafaring profession continues to be attractive for younger generations. The challenge we face is convincing non-maritime industries that rely heavily on maritime transport for their business to promote and demand better working conditions for seafarers," he said.

Canias also shared the value of being part of a union. "Once you know there is always someone who has got your back in times of need, the struggles and insecurities will be less cumbersome," he said.

In his off days, Canias enjoys his time as a father to his two boys. He also takes pride in cooking a mean adobo, tinkering with old bicycles, and enjoying the freedom of riding his motorbike.

"I would not be able to do any of this without the support of my main inspiration, my wife," he concluded.