DMW reminds Pinoy seafarers of their ‘right to refuse sailing’ in ‘war-like zones’

Local manning agencies are now required to inform Filipino seafarers of their “right to refuse sailing” in “high-risk areas (HRAS)” and “warlike zones (WLZS)”.

This was underscored after the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) issued an order, providing guidelines in support of the protection of these rights after the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden were recently declared WLZS.

In the order signed by DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, local manning agencies are also required to thoroughly explain to the seafarers the risk that comes with sailing in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, following the series of attacks by Houthi rebels in the areas, the recent was the missile attack that left two Filipino seamen dead.

The explanation, he said, comes with mandatory Anti-piracy Awareness Training for Seafarers.

Local manning agencies are also required to inform seafarers of the scheduled passage of the ship to the identified areas/zones and their rights and entitlements should they consent to continue with their voyage, as well as ensure the immediate and safe repatriation of seafarers who will invoke their right to refuse sailing at the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The DMW also made sure that there will no discrimination on seafarers who would choose to invoke the right to refuse sailing in their present and future employment.

Local manning agencies, according to the DMW order, were also mandated to provide seafarers with the Confirmation of Refusal to Traverse the Red Sea, or Gulf of Aden, and/or to Other War-like and High-risk Zone to formalize their intent not to join the voyage in the two areas.

The DMW earlier welcomed the decision of the International Bargaining Forum’s (IBF) to designate the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as a “war-like zone” for seafarers. (Aaron Recuenco)