The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) convened a high-level bilateral meeting with a prominent Greek delegation yesterday, January 15, at the Fairmont Hotel, Makati City. The session focused on reinforcing safety protocols, improving employment conditions, and ensuring the holistic welfare of Filipino seafarers currently deployed on Greek-owned vessels.
The meeting comes at a critical time for the maritime industry, as Greek shipowners remain the world’s largest employers of Filipino maritime professionals. The Greek delegation was led by the Greek Ambassador to the Philippines and included influential shipowners and industry representatives.
The dialogue centered on several urgent priorities aimed at modernizing the partnership between the two nations:
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Enhanced Maritime Safety: In light of evolving global maritime security threats, both parties discussed heightened security measures and risk assessment protocols for Filipino crew members navigating high-risk zones.
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Employment Standards & Fair Wages: Discussions focused on ensuring that employment contracts remain competitive and strictly adhere to international maritime labor standards.
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Training and Upskilling: The DMW and Greek representatives explored collaborative programs to train Filipino seafarers in green shipping technologies and digital navigation, ensuring they remain the preferred choice for the global fleet.
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Welfare and Support Systems: Both sides committed to streamlining grievance machineries and ensuring that Filipino seafarers have immediate access to legal and medical assistance while abroad.
The Department of Migrant Workers underscored the government’s “seafarer-first” policy, emphasizing that the economic contribution of the maritime sector must be balanced with uncompromising safety standards. “Our partnership with the Greek shipping community is a cornerstone of the Philippine maritime industry. Today’s meeting reaffirms our shared commitment to not only maintaining this bond but elevating the standards of protection for our seafarers, who are the backbone of global trade.”
The Greek Delegation expressed their continued confidence in the world-class competence of the Filipino workforce, noting that the Philippines remains their top source of maritime talent. They pledged to work closely with the DMW to address emerging challenges in the shipping landscape.
This meeting serves as a precursor to more formal agreements expected later this year, aimed at digitizing the recruitment process and establishing a dedicated “green lane” for the swift processing of seafarer documentation.
