MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Friday (07 Mar 2025) that all reported cases of abandoned Filipino seafarers have been successfully rescued and repatriated to the Philippines.

During a press briefing, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized the DMW’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including seafarers who have been abandoned.

This aligns with the provisions of the amended Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), adopted by the International Labour Organization’s International Labour Conference (ILC).

Cacdac assured that the DMW remains vigilant in protecting seafarers facing abandonment situations, noting that the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in 2024, strengthens the DMW’s role in handling such cases.

“We have long been proactive in ensuring that Filipino seafarers are protected from abandonment,” said Cacdac.

According to DMW data, a total of 373 cases of abandoned Filipino seafarers were recorded between January and December 2024, across various vessels worldwide.

The most recent case involved the repatriation of three Filipino crew members from the salvaged Team Porter vessel, which sailed under a German flag.

Cacdac clarified that abandonment does not always involve physical abandonment. It can also include situations where a shipowner unilaterally severs ties with a seafarer or fails to amend their contract for at least two months, including non-payment of wages.

From 2018 to 2024, the DMW documented 1,035 abandonment cases, covering a variety of vessels including bulk carriers, yachts, and passenger ships. Notable recent cases include the Panamanian bulk carriers MV Atheras and Buenaventura, which reportedly paid their crews for January 2025, and the passenger ship MV Gemini, whose crew members were all repatriated by February 20, 2025.

Cacdac reiterated that the DMW does not hesitate to penalize manning agencies and shipowners involved in abandonment cases, ensuring seafarers receive their entitled benefits and proper treatment.

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