Protecting Filipino seafarers – from law to lifeline

Protecting Filipino seafarers – from law to lifeline
The Editorial Board September 9, 2025 https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/09/09/opinion/editorial/protecting-fili...

THE Philippines is the world’s largest supplier of seafarers, with over 400,000 Filipinos working aboard international vessels. They power the global economy, keeping trade routes alive and shipping lanes moving. In 2024, our seafarers sent home $6.94 billion — a vital 20 percent share of total cash remittances.

Yet, despite their indispensable role, they often face neglect. Many Filipino seafarers have come to “accept” the various forms of abuses they endure at sea as the “norm,” said Capt. Jasmin Labarda of the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (Amosup).

Labarda spoke at the three-day International Conference on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety and Well-being, which ended on Wednesday, with the Philippines hosting.

“They have accepted abuses. Nobody would like to speak up. And I’ve asked my colleagues, ‘Why are you not speaking up?’ They said, ‘I don’t want to lose my job; nobody will believe me,’” Labarda said.

The cases of abuses, especially by companies that cite bankruptcy and abandon ships while at sea, leave seafarers having to fend for themselves with limited supplies of food, fresh water and fuel.

Labor Assistant Secretary Lennard Serrano pointed to the need for “stronger coordination” among member states of the International Labor Organization to accept more reports and calls for assistance and repatriation from seafarers in distress.

Serrano acknowledged that the government has sometimes been “unaware” of the urgent concerns at sea. There are also instances in which it learns only about the situation from the seafarers’ families.

The Philippines and nine other nations have vowed to adhere to the Manila Declaration, a resolution that calls on governments to uphold the human rights of workers. Those who endorsed the declaration were Bangladesh, Germany, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom.

The commitments include the upholding of human rights, enforcement of the Maritime Labor Convention, improvement of crisis preparedness, respect for seafarers’ right to refuse to sail in high-risk areas without reprisal, promotion of human rights, fostering inclusion and women’s empowerment, ensuring a just transition amid digitalization and decarbonization, and harnessing international cooperation for maritime education and training.

What govt can do

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), along with the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), must strengthen legal protection. The landmark Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers (Republic Act 12021), passed on Sept. 23, 2024, sought to ensure fair wages, mandatory insurance coverage, medical benefits, and protection against exploitation.

But legislation isn’t enough. It must translate into tangible support across the sea lanes — from port to ship. Training and certification must be upgraded. Filipino seafarers are prized for their skills and adaptability, but reports of outdated training facilities and inadequate compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) persist.

Moreover, welfare and crisis response mechanisms should be strengthened. During the Red Sea shipping attacks and piracy incidents in the Gulf of Aden, Filipino seafarers were left exposed to life-threatening risks. Government has created a rapid-response unit under the DMW that coordinates with foreign embassies, international maritime organizations and shipping companies to repatriate endangered crews and provide psychosocial support for traumatized workers.

Financial literacy and reintegration programs must be improved. Many seafarers return home with little savings due to poor financial planning or a lack of support in transitioning to land-based jobs. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) should expand programs that teach financial management, entrepreneurship and vocational training. Partnerships with banks and cooperatives could help channel remittances into sustainable investments, rather than pricey cellphones.

Mental health support must also be boosted. Life at sea is isolating and stressful, often leading to depression, anxiety, or substance dependence. The government should require manning agencies to provide confidential telehealth services, peer-support networks, and regular wellness check-ins. This is not a luxury but a necessity.

They should also reform the contested bond requirement (Section 59), which requires seafarers to post a bond before fiduciary awards can be enforced, if appealed. This puts them at a disadvantage compared to land-based workers. Labor groups filed a petition with the Supreme Court in March 2025, challenging it as discriminatory.

Protecting our seafarers is not just giving gratitude; it is a moral and economic imperative. Every dollar remitted, every cargo delivered, and every safe voyage completed underscores their sacrifices. Our government must respond beyond words — it must act with resolve, building a system of protection that sails as far as they do.