Five years post-implementation of the Seafarers’ Rights Code, over 1,000 shipping companies engage in RightShip’s Crew Welfare Self-Assessment, reflecting progress. Nonetheless, many seafarers still face inadequate conditions, including wage delays and insufficient crew numbers. Urgent action is needed to enhance mental health support and integrate welfare into operational decisions for sustainable improvement.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has established the Maritime Labor Affairs Office (MLAO) to enhance support for Filipino seafarers. This initiative, detailed in Administrative Order No. 283, includes legal assistance, dispute resolution, and educational resources, ensuring comprehensive support for maritime workers throughout their careers at sea.
The United Nations has urgently called for the protection of seafarers trapped in conflict zones, emphasizing their dire circumstances. HRRC condemned attacks on civilian vessels and the abandonment of seafarers, urging all parties to ensure essential supplies, safe evacuation, and payment of wages, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and humanitarian law enforcement.
