Wage recovery underway for seafarers unpaid for months in Iloilo — OWWA

Six Filipino seafarers who went unpaid for nearly three months aboard a foreign-flagged vessel anchored off the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait are now at the center of a government-led wage recovery effort, following their rescue and initial settlement negotiations.

The case, which surfaced on June 27, revealed that the seafarers — part of a larger international crew — had been working without pay under difficult conditions. 

The situation prompted the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to extract the crew and begin resolving their wage claims.

“May pagkakasundo in terms of payment… may kino-claim sila na iba ang pinasweldo sa kanila kaysa sa kontrata. Mayroon pang isang kontrata under review ng DMW.”

(An agreement on payment was reached… but the seafarers are claiming they were paid less than what their contracts stated. One contract is still under review by the DMW.)

According to OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, although the six Filipino crew members have now disembarked safely and received initial financial aid, the process to fully recover their unpaid wages is still ongoing. Discrepancies between what the workers were paid and what was outlined in their employment contracts remain a critical issue.

“Umaasa tayo na matatanggap nila ng buo ang kanilang mga sweldo.”

(We’re hopeful they will receive the full amount of their salaries.)

Caunan emphasized that a final resolution is contingent on further validation and enforcement of the seafarers’ contracts, some of which are still being scrutinized by the DMW. The agency is also exploring possible legal remedies should negotiations with the vessel owners or manning agencies fail to yield full restitution.

In the meantime, OWWA has provided each of the six seafarers with financial assistance, accommodation, and access to psychosocial support, as well as referrals for further medical care if needed.

“Bilang mandato ng OWWA at DMW, pangalagaan ang welfare ng ating seafarers,” she noted. 

(It is the mandate of OWWA and DMW to safeguard the welfare of our seafarers.)

Caunan also acknowledged that the situation reflects larger systemic challenges Filipino maritime workers face, even in regulated sectors. She said the agencies are determined to pursue accountability.

“Talagang sinabi natin sa kanila, bayaran ng tamang sweldo ang ating mga kababayan at hindi tayo uuwi ng Manila hanggang hindi natin iuuwi ang ating seafarers.”

(We told them clearly, pay our seafarers properly, and we won’t leave for Manila until we’ve brought them home.)

The six crew members were stranded aboard the vessel in the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait alongside seven other foreign seafarers. They endured not only delayed compensation but also deteriorating onboard conditions, prompting emergency government action.

OWWA said it will continue to monitor the case closely and provide updates on the status of wage restitution. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News