EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: A Programme of Action to Promote the Welfare and Protect the Interests of the Filipino Seafarer in the 21st Century
A Programme of Action
to Promote the Welfare and Protect the Interests of
the Filipino Seafarer in the 21st Century
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Philippines is the leading source of seafaring labour in the world, for both officers and ratings, supplying over 20 per cent of the total shipboard workforce in the international trading fleets. This dominant presence of Filipino seafarers in the global maritime industry raises challenges and opportunities not only for the Philippine government but also for relevant industry actors, including the international seafarers’ welfare community. Filipino seafarers play a vital role in promoting security, stability and sustainable growth in the global maritime sector. It is proper that all stakeholders recognize this critical role and acknowledge the `human element’ issues and workers’ rights concerns dramatized by Filipino seafarers, aboard and ashore.
The immediate expectation on the Philippine government is to install a policy and administrative environment that will ensure the highest levels of quality in the country’s system of maritime education, training, certification and deployment. As the leading maritime labour-sending country, the Philippines must also undertake much needed reforms to implement internationally-recognized maritime labour standards and to foster the rights, the health, and the well-being of Filipino seafarers and their families.
At regional and global scales, the campaign against sub-standard ships and substandard shipping conditions can only redound to the benefit Filipino seafarers. Governments and public authorities, international organizations, the private sector, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders must strive to find ways and means of cooperating more actively to combat sub-standard working and living conditions in international shipping. The overall experience of Filipino seafarers supports the conclusion that ships which fail to meet minimum international standards in regard to crew working and living conditions are usually the same ships which trample upon and violate maritime security, safety and/or environmental standards.
The comprehensive dialogue initiated by the Rotterdam Conference on the well-being, rights, and interests of Filipino seafarers is worthwhile and must be sustained.
***Note: This document was adopted by an International Conference held on 20-21 June 2002 in Rotterdam onboard the Ameland. The conference was organized by the Philippine Seafarers Assistance Programme and the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. The Rotterdam Programme of Action has been widely circulated and will serve as PSAP’s blueprint for a sustained campaign on behalf of Filipino and other seafarers. Keep this as your special copy of a historic document. Your comments are most welcome.
Amsterdam Declaration 2003: Towards a Filipino Migrant Economic Development Agenda
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