DOLE nixes proposal to ban Pinoy seafarers in Somalia

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has rejected a proposal to ban the deployment of Filipino seafarers to foreign vessels that ply the pirate-infested waters of Somalia.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the deployment ban is not necessary since the government has already put in place safety measures for the protection of Filipino seafarers.

“We do not recommend the banning of our Filipino seafarers from working in foreign vessels in Somalia as interventions on how to deal with the piracy problem have been identified during the anti-piracy summit,” he said.

Roque said the proposed ban would only result in loss of jobs among Filipino seafarers that would affect their families, the Philippine seafaring industry and the economy as well.

He said the proposed ban is being addressed through the implementation of a joint communiqué or agreement forged between the DOLE and seafarers’ groups, the manning and shipping sectors, the International Labor Organization and International Maritime Organization.

Roque said three measures are now being implemented for the protection of Filipino seafarers – the formulation of anti-piracy regulations, the conduct of anti-piracy training, and provision of psychosocial counseling for seafarers.

Training modules

More than 200 agencies out of 350 manning firms have submitted their anti-piracy training modules to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

The final approval of the modules will be based on the standard training module, which the POEA is preparing in coordination with the Maritime Training Center.

Based on POEA Memorandum Circular No. 02, “all manning agencies must require seafarers to undergo training on practical measures to avoid, deter or delay piracy/attacks prior to deployment.”

Aside from the anti-piracy training, the POEA has also approved a resolution allowing the deployment of Filipino seafarers on board vessels transiting in pirate-infested areas provided that the ship owners, principals, managers or manning agencies will ensure that the vessels will pass within the maritime security patrol area.

The ship owners and manning agencies will also submit appropriate security measures such as security escorts or joining convoy to all vessels passing through known pirate-infested areas.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is also providing psychosocial counseling and other support services for the families and relatives of piracy victims.

Mushroom pickers

Meanwhile, Filipinos working as mushroom pickers in Poland have complained of very low wages, unfavorable working conditions and substandard accommodations, the Philippine embassy in Poland said.

Philippine Ambassador to Warsaw Alejandro Del Rosario said his embassy is making representations with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) not to issue clearances for the deployment of Filipinos in Poland as mushroom pickers.

“There are approximately 86 Filipino women deployed or working as mushroom pickers in Poland. Majority of (them) are not happy with their jobs due to very low wages, unfavorable working conditions and/or substandard accommodations,” Del Rosario said.

He said the Filipino workers are paid on per-kilo basis, dependent on the availability of mushrooms for picking and the orders received from customers. Rates per kilo depend on whether the mushroom is of first-, second- or third-class quality.

“In effect, there are no fixed wages for a mushroom picker. The workers’ monthly earning varies from $150 to $500,” he said.

Del Rosario said the workers are also made to clean production sites but are not paid for doing this.

They also live in substandard accommodations with more than 30 individuals sharing one dilapidated bathroom with limited supply of hot water, he said.