Navotas fishing firm faces closure

MANILA, Philippines - A fishing company in Navotas faces closure for alleged illegal recruitment and employment of underaged workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said she has ordered an investigation of and the filing of appropriate charges against the owner and officials of Pesca Maharlika Marine Resources, Inc.

Baldoz said about 38 of Pesca’s workers complained of labor standards violations and demanded reimbursement of allegedly illegal deductions in their salary and other benefits.

She said the workers have also complained of inhuman working conditions such as lack of health and safety measures, excessive working hours, the employment of minors and illegal recruitment.

“Such an employer – who thrives and profits on the blood, sweat, and tears of common, unsuspecting workers – deserves no mercy,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz said the firm allegedly recruited 250 fishermen from Central Visayas for a five-trip, 10-month deep sea fishing expedition off Palawan since July last year. Five of the 250 fishermen have reportedly died during the expedition.

She said Pesca also recruited eight minors, who have not been issued the required fish worker’s identification cards by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

“The fishermen were required to work from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. with only one to two hours of meal and rest periods. They were required to dive to depths of 14 to 20 dupa (each dupa is approximately 1.4 meters),” the DOLE report said.

It was also reported that some of the fish workers were not required to dive, but are fitted with steel chains called “siroska,” weighing between four and five kilos. The “siroska” are used to frighten and drive fish to the nets. None of the fishermen had any diving gear except for goggles.

Baldoz said before they sailed, the firm promised the fishermen 20 percent of the gross sales, but despite gross revenues of more than P47 million from 25,000 tubs of fish, the workers said they did not receive anything.

She said DOLE will evaluate the complaints and decide on the findings, records, and testimonies of the parties.

“But right now, what we will do is to ensure that the general labor and occupational health and safety standards, particularly the settlement of all the money claims, are enforced in favor of the workers,” Baldoz said.