Three weeks ago, the New York Times wrote an invesigative piece on Filipino seafers that get duped by recruitment agencies, so this is very welcome news.
President Noynoy Aquino has signed into law the Seafarers Protection Act which protects “Filipino seafarers from unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of them by charging exorbitant fees and promising huge returns should they meet accidents while on the job,” reports The Philippine Star.
“Under Republic Act 10706, individuals or groups found to have charged seafarers excessively will have to suffer maximum imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of PHP100,000 or both,” adds the report. “The same penalty will also apply to every person found to have conspired in this illegal act.”
Photo: Gina Abuyuan
