THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) renewed on Tuesday its call for shipping firms to reroute vessels from the Black Sea and other high-risk areas, following the deaths of two Filipino seafarers.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that because of the escalation of security incidents in the Black Sea, it is now classified by the International Bargaining Forum as a high-risk or warlike area.
Cacdac added that should vessels continue sailing through such areas, Filipino seafarers should first be informed of the risks and be given the option to refuse or provide their consent before departure, with the appropriate documentation.
He said Filipino seafarers who refuse assignments to high-risk areas should not face discrimination in their future employment, noting they are entitled to proper compensation and free repatriation to the Philippines.
The DMW said it will continue to monitor developments in the Black Sea and coordinate with relevant agencies on additional measures to safeguard Filipino seafarers assigned to vessels operating in the area.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the DMW to extend legal aid to the families of two Filipino seafarers killed in recent drone strikes in the northern Black Sea.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the president has instructed Cacdac to coordinate with the families of the fatalities.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Castro said the DMW is determining whether the seafarers’ deployment and protection protocols were properly observed, including whether any report had been made regarding the risks involved.
“The DMW, according to Secretary Hans Cacdac, is checking whether there had been a report for the protection of our Filipino seafarers,” Castro said in Filipino.
“If they learn that any local manning agencies or foreign principals violated [this requirement], their license can be revoked,” the Palace press officer said.
She added that the government is continuing to look into the circumstances surrounding the incident to ensure that the welfare and safety of Filipino seafarers are protected, particularly those deployed in conflict-affected areas.
