Advancing the Rights of Filipino Migrant Fishers in the UK
In a london-unlocking-uk-investment-opportunities/” title=”Jacksonville’s Bold Trade Mission to London: Unlocking UK Investment Opportunities”>pivotal meeting at the Philippine Embassy in London, TUCP President and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza (TUCP Party-list) engaged with prominent officials, including Philippine Ambassador Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Lopez Locsin Jr. Key participants also included Consul Raphael Hermoso from the International Maritime Organization, Maritime Attaché Atty. Sharon Aledo, and OWWA London Officer-in-Charge Sheila Mae Aguilar. The delegation was joined by Atty. Generick Humprey Morales from the Associated Philippine Seafarers Union (APSU) and TUCP Party-list Chief of Staff Archie Ranin.
This assembly concentrated on addressing critical challenges facing Filipino fishers who work on British fishing vessels. With an urgent agenda to enhance their working conditions, it sought to establish robust labor protections while advocating for a more equitable visa system that safeguards the rights of these migrant workers.
The Plight of Filipino Workers
“Filipino workers are essential to sustaining the UK’s fishing industry; regrettably, they often exist as unseen entities—overworked, underpaid laborers stripped of basic employment rights and entangled in systemic exploitation,” stated Mendoza emphatically.
A recent analysis by Financial Times has revealed that more than half of Britain’s fishing workforce—comprising around 11,000 individuals—are foreign nationals including many Filipinos. For years now, UK fishing companies have manipulated transit visas meant for merchant seafarers as a means to circumvent established labor laws that protect these migrant fishers.
Legislative Gaps and Their Consequences
Mendoza remarked about this bypassing: “The misuse of transit visas fosters an environment where Filipino fishers are treated like expendable assets—enduring relentless workloads for meager wages while incurring recruitment-related debts—all in blatant violation of ILO Convention 188.”
Pushing for Change: Call from TUCP
The Trade Union Congress has been a long-time advocate urging Philippines’ ratification of ILO Convention No. 188 which would benefit all fishermen both domestically and internationally. Recently during Congress session 19, TUCP introduced House Resolution No. 2059 requesting urgent action from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., emphasizing swift approval for this critical convention.
In a recent development applauded by advocates like Mendoza was the UK Government’s announcement permitting migrant fishers eligibility for Skilled Worker Visas—a recognition that acknowledges their offshore roles alongside guaranteeing critical benefits such as fair wages and job protections.A Step Forward: Skilled Worker Visas
“Despite this enhancement being commendable progress forward,” he pointed out “many hurdles remain due primarily due to prohibitive visa costs along with stringent language proficiency tests which can deter eligible workers.”
Bilateral Collaboration Efforts Ahead
To resolve ongoing issues affecting migrant fishermen’s welfare in Britain effectively, TUCP is campaigning vigorously for establishing a bilateral labor agreement between the Philippines and United Kingdom . This pact would aim to align work contracts across both nations whilst extending crucial oversight regarding all aspects concerning worker welfare irrespective status or level within industry hierarchies—and ensuring simpler pathways towards obtaining necessary visas through reduced criteria burden placed upon applicants during such processes.
Ambassador Lopez-Locsin along with representatives from MWO have committed themselves towards bolstering collaboration between various organizations including Iterable Assistant Peasant Workers(Apii), International Transport Workers Federation(ITF), Associated Philippine Seafarer Union(APSU) so concerns facing Filipinos employed abroad might be addressed comprehensively—the firmer objective being securing recognizably skilled-worker classification arising through contributions made available by our home country fisheries sector operations vital service provision entailing diligent maritime staffing aboard domestic vessels operated overseas .”
Towards Dignity & Justice in Labor Practices
Mendoza closed stating unequivocally : ”Our hardworking compatriots risk not only their livelihoods but even lives frequently necessitated thru tremendous sacrifices made feeding families throughout households ; therefore achieving legitimately entitled treatment based genuinely correlating efforts culminating dignified pay , safe working environments coupled enduring contract stability ultimately lie higher priority dictating solidarity enacted pursuing these mustered partnerships aiming restore fairness brought rightful change into prevailing law accompanying justice expected met accord reliant sectors throughout networking reignited purposes enhancing across direct communities aligned respective timely continuation facilitating access enabling existing workforce commitments fostered accordingly”.
