Thirty-two Filipino seafarers have been rescued and repatriated to the Philippines after allegedly suffering from months of abuse, contract violations and delayed wages while employed by a local shipping company in Fiji.
The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that the crew had fallen victim to contract substitution and wage theft, with their promised salaries of ₱60,000 per month reduced to only ₱20,000.
The workers reportedly endured long delays in payment and faced various forms of maltreatment during their employment.
According to the DMW, the rescue and repatriation were conducted in cooperation with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Fiji-based authorities.
The operation followed the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has called for the continued protection and welfare of overseas Filipino workers.
Labour Attaché Antonio Mutuc Jr., who coordinated the rescue efforts, visited the affected seafarers in Fiji and arranged for their safe return to the Philippines.
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