Migrante International expresses its utmost support for the over 150 Filipino cruise line seafarers deported and harassed by United States immigration forces. Waves of cruise ship workers over the past year suffered arbitrary detention, intimidation, abuse, denial of the right to legal counsel, and denial of due at the hands of the Customs and Border Protection while their vessels were docked at US ports.
Others were revoked of their visas before even leaving the Philippines to board their supposed vessels.Upon return to the Philippines or revocation of their visas, their employers and manning agencies, including RCM, Wilhelmsen, Open Sea, Carnival, United Phil. Line, CF Sharp, Magsaysay, and Vikings, dismissed many of the seafarers. Their employers denied them the right to be rehired, even in other ship routes that do not require the possession of US visas.
We fellow Filipino migrants stand with their seafarers in their demands for accountability from governments and employers alike.We denounce the Philippine government for its silence and inaction as dozens of Filipino seafarers continue to suffer. The US-backed Marcos Jr. administration has provided no diplomatic protest nor substantial aid or assistance. It has not held the deported seafarers’ manning agencies accountable, and continues to deny thousands more seafarers crucial protections from work discrimination.Despite criminal abandonment at the hands of their employers and the Philippine government, the deported and discriminated seafarers are fighting for their own justice and protection.
The cruise ship workers have waged multiple picket and dialogue actions at Philippine government and private manning agency offices. Led by our member organization, the International Seafarers Action Center, they are determined to advance their campaign for justice and protections.The deported and discriminated cruise ship workers deserve our support. Here are steps that you can do to help our kababayan fighting for our rights:
- Write a statement of support for our seafarers, calling on President Marcos Jr. and DMW Secretary Cacdac to heed the demands of our seafarers for justice and an end to discrimination by manning agencies.
- Donate to provide resources to the campaign: transportation, food, temporary accommodations, meetings and workshops, case filing expenses for the seafarers in the weeks and months ahead.
- Selfie protest: Take a photo/selfie with one of the campaign calls of the seafarers and post it online. Don’t forget to tag the International Seafarers Action Center or Migrante International on your post!
- Host fora and discussions on the campaign: invite the seafarers and the International Seafarers Action Center to share their stories to your local Filipino community.
Let’s show our seafarers that they are not alone in this fight. As a global Filipino community, let us stand together, speak out and act to achieve justice and lasting change for all migrant workers.
