In a recent report received from the Labor Attache post in Singapore, the incidence of non-payment of salaries of Filipino seamen hired by Taiwanese principals has been noted on the rise.

According to the report, Filipino seamen are being brought to Singapore for disembarkation with the promise that all monetary remunerations shall be paid there by a Singapore agent.  In many instances, this arrangement proved to be disadvantageous to our seamen considering that the agent either refuses or delays the payment of amounts due to the seamen whose permit to stay in Singapore is limited only to two to three days.

To avoid similar incidents, manning entities particularly those that deploy Filipino seamen and fishermen on-board Taiwanese-owned vessels are hereby reminded to ensure that their employers comply with the contractual provision that shipboard salaries, including payments for overtime, must be paid on board.

It is likewise reiterated that seamen be apprised of this information during their pre-departure orientation seminars.

For strict compliance.

Adopted: 6 Oct. 1993

(Sgd.) FELICISIMO O. JOSON
Administrator