The demand for welfare services among non-domicile special members prompted the JSU to establish an office in Manila, where most Filipino seafarers congregate and crew deployments are made.

It was initially set up in 1992 at Ermita Center as a Welfare Office registered under the appropriate Philippine law (RA 7042), the Foreign Investments Act of 1991.

The office's main task is to manage the JSU "Mutual Benefit System" and "Welfare Fund Benefit System" for its foreign special members and their families.

In the event a JSU non-domicile special member dies or is lost at sea during service on board a merchant vessel – events that are covered by every JSU Collective Agreement – a Welfare Fund Benefit equivalent to ¥350,000 and a Mutual Benefit equivalent to ¥50,000 will be paid to the beneficiary.

In case of a disaster on board ship, a Mutual Assistance Benefit equivalent to ¥30,000 will be paid to each surviving JSU special member.