Friday, September 28, 2007 Seafaring: One of RP's safest, most regulated industries By Carlo P. Mallo
THE seafaring industry appears to be one of the safest and most regulated industries in the country today.
The Philippine Overseas and Employment Administration (POEA)-Mindanao said it has not received any report of illegal recruitment or any form of harassment from the seafarers.
POEA-Mindanao officer in charge Carolina Agdamag on Thursday said: "No complaint has been lodged with our office, none that I know of."
She said the rates that seafarers receive are determined by the International Labor Organization (ILO).
She added that it is the International Maritime Organization, which sets the standards for the seafaring industry.
"That is why it is a highly regulated industry and that it is very seldom that we receive complaints," Agdamag added.
Agdamag added that as of August, 358 seafaring contracts are currently being processed at the POEA, while only 51 have exited through the international ports of the city.
"Sometimes, people would have their documents processed in other parts of the country and also exit through other international ports in the country," she added.
