Filipino seafarers are now prohibited from sailing in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Wednesday, April 24.
"The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) today issued Department Order No. 2 prohibiting the deployment of Filipino seafarers onboard passenger and cruise ships set to sail through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden," the DMW said.
This move by DMW was made following the recent amendments to the International Transport Workers’ Federation's (ITF) and International Bargaining
Forum's (IBF) lists of “high-risk areas” (HRAs) and “war-like zones” (WLZs) to include the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Here are DMW's guidelines for Department Order No. 2:
1. Licensed Manning Agencies (LMAs) must sign an “affirmation letter” guaranteeing that the vessels their seafarers board will not navigate the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden. This commitment, along with the vessel’s detailed itinerary, must be submitted to the DMW during the documentation of crew employment contracts or before their deployment.
2. Filipino seafarers listed as crew members onboard the vessels must also sign the affirmation letter acknowledging their vessel will enter the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden
3. The affirmation letter executed by the LMAs with the seafarers' consent must be uploaded to the DMW’s Online Processing System for Sea-Based (DOPS-Sea) together with the processed Standard Employment Contract (SEC). This stringent measure ensures a transparent process, fostering accountability and compliance with the new safety protocols.
The DMW noted that it remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of Filipino seafarers.
"These measures reflect the DMW’s dedication to ensuring safe working conditions and protecting our seafaring workforce," it noted.
