A group of 32 Filipino seafarers was successfully evacuated from the port of Fide after months of being stranded in the waters off the coast of Libya. The decision was made by the Ministry of Migrant Workers (DMW), which dispatched the workers to the company that handles the contracts for the seafarers: a total of ₱60,000 per month for all, ₱20,000 of which is for overtime pay. The shipowners and manning agencies complied with the order and signed the necessary labor agreements.
Upon arriving in the country, each of the repatriated seafarers received ₱50,000 from the AKSYON fund, as well as psychological and social support for adaptation to life after traumatic experiences. The actions of the authorities were not only aimed at providing material assistance, but also at ensuring the well-being of the workers in the future.
The operation was led by Attaché Antonio Mutuc Jr., who personally organized the repatriation of the seafarewers. At that time, the DMW initiated the process of filing a complaint against the employer and agencies by applying the necessary measures to ensure justice.
In the meantime, the Filipino seafarers plan to work for the companies, strictly verifying the legitimacy of the recruiting companies and complying with the laws of the host country in order to avoid risks of exploitation.
