Able Maritime Seafarers Inc., a manning agency based in the Philippines, is on the verge of being red-listed by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) due to alleged violations of seafarers’ rights. This development follows the ITF’s launch of the ITFShipBeSure initiative in early August, aimed at assisting seafarers in finding safe employment. The initiative provides a ranking system for manning agents, categorizing them as green (reputable) or red (to be avoided), which is essential given that Filipino seafarers must register with an agency to work abroad.
The ITF’s Inspectorate claims there have been multiple troubling incidents involving Able Maritime, including cases reported in Fiji, Malta, and the Indian Ocean. The complaints center around severe mistreatment, such as unfulfilled promises for decent wages and working conditions, seizure of passports that prevent seafarers from leaving, and unsafe working environments. Notably, there is also a report concerning a “missing” seafarer whose whereabouts remain unknown. ITF Inspectorate Coordinator Steve Trowsdale expressed concern over these conditions, stating, “These seafarers have been trapped into working conditions well below the minimum we would expect and, in some cases, below what national and international laws allow.”
Mr. Trowsdale emphasized that manning agencies have an obligation to protect the seafarers they place in employment. This includes ensuring that workers can return home if conditions become untenable or if jobs are misrepresented. He pointed out that Able Maritime has repeatedly failed to uphold these standards, with at least three significant incidents occurring within a short time frame.
Additionally, the ITF is currently seeking formal responses from both Able Maritime and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), which oversees the welfare and wages of over 2.2 million Filipinos working abroad. Trowsdale noted that the silence from Able Maritime would cement its status as the first red-listed company, thereby serving as a warning to seafarers to avoid this agency.
The ITF Inspectorate is committed to continuing its investigation and encourages any seafarers who have been employed through Able Maritime in the last two years to share their experiences. They can provide information by contacting the ITF at seafsupport@itf.org.
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