NEARLY 200 Filipino seafarers have exercised their “Right to Refuse Sailing” in waters identified as “high-risk areas” and “war-like zones,” about eight months since the implementation of the policy, according to the Department of Migrant Workers.
The agency said that as of October 30, 186 Filipino seafarers have refused to sail through the said high-risk areas, said the DMW.
Last year, at least 578,600 Filipino seafarers were deployed, although not all of their vessels pass travel through the high-risk routes.
The DMW, in March this year, directed manning agencies and their accredited principals/employers to ensure the proper implementation of the decision of seafarers to invoke their Right to Refuse Sailing in the identified high-risk and war-like zones like the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
The Right to Refuse Sailing is a policy that will result in the immediate and safe repatriation of Filipino seafarers who will refuse to sail in those zones, the DMW said.
“The DMW prioritizes the safety and rights of Filipino seafarers who should be made fully aware of their assigned routes and the potential dangers involved,” said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.
The seafarers, he added, must also be allowed to freely decide to refuse to sail in the said risk areas.
“They should be protected from discrimination or withheld compensation for exercising their right to refuse sailing,” said Cacdac.
At least 49 reported ships, with Filipino crewmen, have been attacked while traversing through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden from November 2023 to October 29 this year.
Of the reported attacks, the DMW said there have been two deaths, two injured, and one missing among Filipino seafarers.
