On Seafarers' Day, maritime group calls for action vs piracy plague

While marking the first ever Day for the Seafarers on June 25, a group urged the maritime industry to address problems plaguing sea-based workers, such as piracy, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reported Sunday. The International Seafarers’ Action Center (ISAC) particularly noted piracy incidents in the Horn of Africa, victimizing hundreds of seafarers who are mostly Filipinos, an article posted on the CBCP website said. “Aside from the psychological torture that they experience, their lives are also exposed to more dangers and risks as there were reports that pirates now slay their hostages as the ship-owners continue to decline giving ransom for the ship and the crew," ISAC said. Despite these dangers, the maritime industry continues to lure Filipinos because of the promise of high salaries, according to a special report on GMA News’ “24 Oras" newscast.
ISAC also said it has been busy “handling cases of seafarers that had been duped by their employers about their salaries, the non-payment of benefits for sickness and disability, and many other issues which concern the health, safety, rights, and welfare of the seamen." ISAC, however, noted that a flawed justice system in the country and inadequate international laws continue to deter action on these cases. “The litigation process is difficult, intricate, and not to mention excruciating. Corruption, power play and the deemed inadequacy of the local and international laws play the crucial role in the litigation and execution processes," the group said. Last Saturday, June 25 was declared by the International Maritime Organization, United Nations body, a Day for the Seafarers for the first time. — LBG, GMA News