DMW chief seeks stronger tripartite dialogue, protection for Filipino seafarers

MANILA, February 11 ------ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac stressed the importance of strengthening coordination among government, manning agencies, and labor groups to better protect Filipino seafarers, as the department welcomed the induction of new officers of the Joint Manning Group.

Cacdac said the oath-taking comes at a crucial time, following a challenging year for the global maritime industry marked by security risks in the Red Sea, noting that the Philippines remains a key player in the sector. “Ang pundasyon n’yan is globally, including the International Labor Organization, the ILO recognizes us as a foremost labor-supplying country in terms of our seafarers who are known worldwide. Our seafarers comprise around 30% of the global seafaring force,” Cacdac said, highlighting the country’s strong tripartite tradition that brings together government, the manning sector, and seafarer unions.

He said the Joint Manning Group represents around 200 manning agencies that deploy thousands of Filipino seafarers annually. “Ganun kahalaga ‘yung pundasyon at ‘yung patuloy nating pakikidaopalad, pakikipag-usap, pakikipag-coordinate at pagpapalakas pa ng mga polisiya at programa natin para sa mga seafarers through the mining sector and also the seafaring sector,” he emphasized.

These efforts, he added, are complemented by labor groups such as the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), which complete the tripartite framework. Cacdac also clarified concerns over the prescribed schedule of disability impediments for seafarers, saying the DMW’s regulatory authority remains “protective” of maritime workers. He emphasized that only DMW-licensed recruiters may deploy seafarers and that employment contracts must comply with international standards, particularly the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention.

Central to this, he said, is the enforcement of standard employment contracts that clearly define compensation for disability or illness, wages, overtime pay, and other conditions of work. “Ganun kahalaga ang DMW sa processing ng mga workers, yung in line with our responsibilities sa international convention and community, and yung ating koordinasyon today that is best showcased by the induction of the officers of the Joint Manning Group kasi napapakita yung synergy that is necessary to set policy, to implement policy for the better protection of our seafarers,” Cacdac said.

Looking ahead, the DMW chief said the Marcos administration is committed to sustaining and strengthening social dialogue initiated under former DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople, particularly on maritime safety, training, and education. While maritime safety falls under the Department of Transportation and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Cacdac said the DMW’s role is to ensure that social partners are consulted and that their concerns are relayed to relevant agencies, reinforcing a whole-of-government approach to safeguarding Filipino seafarers.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com