Fishing in the open sea is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Climate change has forced migrant fishermen to sail farther and farther into the open sea, chasing after squid and tuna. They work nearly non-stop onboard spartan fishing boats that often do not have adequate safety equipment or protocols in place. For this kind of back breaking work, they are paid about $300 a month.
With the Philippines being the largest supplier of seafarers in the world, Filipino seafarers are among the most at risk. The uneven application of maritime laws have left migrant fishermen the most vulnerable. Not all maritime laws include migrant fishermen under the definition and protections for seafarers.
The government must address the systemic issues that plague the fishing industry. Recruitment agencies reneging on their responsibility to safeguard the employment rights and welfare of the migrant fishermen is but one issue. It is not unheard of for recruitment agencies to declare bankruptcy to circumvent their financial responsibilities to migrant workers.
Read more:
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/devil-and-the-deep-blue-sea-migrant-seafarers