ITF and MARINA Partner to Enhance Mental Health Training for Filipino Seafarers

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London to improve mental health and wellbeing training for Filipino seafarers. Under the agreement, the ITF and the Philippines will work together to enhance the knowledge and skills of maritime faculties in areas related to seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing. This collaboration will involve incorporating a new module on “Mental Health and Stress: Understanding Early Management and Coping” into the curricula of maritime academies in the Philippines, the world’s largest supplier of seafarers.

In addition to training and capacity building initiatives, the ITF and MARINA will also undertake collaborative research projects and initiatives focused on occupational health, safety, and wellbeing within the Philippine maritime sector. The signing of this agreement marks the beginning of stronger partnerships that will benefit not only Filipino seafarers but the maritime industry as a whole. The ITF’s seafarer union affiliates in the Philippines, AMOSUP and APSU, are witnesses to this agreement, which was signed by Sonia B Malaluan, Administrator of MARINA, and John Canias, Maritime Operations Coordinator at the ITF.

The Philippines, with an estimated 800,000 seafarers, recently passed the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers to strengthen the rights and protections of Filipino seafarers locally and globally. This commitment to safeguarding the rights and promoting the wellbeing of Filipino seafarers was highlighted by Teodoro Locsin Jr, the Philippine Ambassador to the UK. The ITF is also working with India to incorporate stress management and mental health training into its maritime curriculum, further emphasizing the importance of mental health support for seafarers globally.

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