UNITED ⁣EFFORTS FOR FILIPINO‌ MIGRANT FISHERMEN

In a pivotal gathering ​at the Philippine Embassy in ⁤London, ⁢UK, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)⁣ President and House ⁣Deputy Speaker Raymond‍ Democrito C. Mendoza (TUCP Party-list) held engaging ‌discussions‍ with prominent figures like Philippine Ambassador to‌ the UK, ‌Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Lopez Locsin Jr. Present at this significant meeting were Deputy Permanent ​Representative to‍ the International Maritime Organization (IMO),‌ Consul​ Raphael Hermoso, Maritime Attaché ⁣Atty. Sharon Aledo, and Sheila Mae Aguilar ⁤from the Migrant Workers Office-OWWA in London. They⁢ were joined⁢ by TUCP Party-list’s Chief of Staff Archie Ranin and Associated Philippine Seafarers Union‌ (APSU) ​National Vice⁢ President for Operations Atty. Generick Humprey Morales.

Addressing Urgent Issues Faced by Filipino Fishers

The talks centered around critical concerns regarding exploitation ⁣that⁤ Filipino fishers endure while employed on UK vessels. Mendoza emphasized that these workers are essential to the UK’s tucp-urges-philippines-uk-bilateral-labor-pact-to-combat-exploitation-of-filipino-migrant-fishers/” title=”TUCP Urges Philippines-UK Bilateral Labor Pact to Combat Exploitation of Filipino Migrant Fishers”>fishing sector yet ‌are subjected to ​harsh conditions—often overworked, undercompensated, and stripped‌ of basic labor rights.

“Filipino workers form an integral part of Britain’s fishing industry; however,‍ they remain ​largely overlooked and⁤ subjected to ⁤systemic challenges akin to being second-class citizens,” ⁤stated⁢ Mendoza decisively.

The Reality ​Behind Exploitation

A recent Financial ⁣Times article highlighted a ⁣staggering ‍reality: over 50% of​ the ‍UK’s approximately 11,000‌ fishing workforce comprises migrant laborers—including a significant number from the Philippines. For years now, operators in the UK fishing ⁣industry have ⁣exploited⁤ transit visas intended for merchant seafarers ‍to sidestep labor laws ⁣designed for ‌protecting migrant fishers‘ ‌rights.

“This ⁣loophole⁤ surrounding transit visas‌ has resulted​ in Filipino fishers being treated as ⁤expendable​ resources: forced into exhausting workloads with minimal pay while incurring recruitment ⁢debts—all violating ⁢ILO Convention No. 188,” added⁢ Mendoza with ‌urgency.