Filipino Seafarers Given Right to Refuse Sailing in High-Risk Areas

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has issued an advisory categorizing “warlike and high-risk areas” where Filipino seafarers have the right to refuse sailing with repatriation and compensation, according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega. In these areas, seafarers can choose not to sail with repatriation at the company’s cost and compensation equal to two months’ basic wage, or they can receive a bonus equivalent to their basic wage if they choose to continue sailing. This directive was prompted by a Houthi attack on a Barbados-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Aden that resulted in the death of two Filipino sailors and injuries to others.

The identified “warlike and high-risk areas” include the Yemeni coast, Southern Central with the Red Sea, Gulf of Guinea near Liberia-Ivory Coast, Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch, Northern Black Sea Region, all ports in Ukraine, and the Black Sea. The DFA stated that 11 surviving Filipino seafarers are expected to return home late Tuesday. This advisory aims to protect Filipino seafarers working in dangerous areas and ensure their safety while on duty.

The DMW’s advisory is a response to the recent Houthi attack on a Barbados-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Aden, which resulted in casualties among Filipino seafarers. By categorizing certain areas as “warlike and high-risk,” the DFA is providing seafarers with the right to refuse sailing in these dangerous regions and offering compensation and repatriation if they choose not to sail. The safety and well-being of Filipino seafarers are a top priority for the government, and this directive aims to protect them from harm while on duty in hazardous areas.

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