The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has endorsed an alleged forced labor trafficking case involving 36 Filipino fishermen deployed by two Philippine manning agencies to Namibia.
According to Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, the department has sought the help of the Department of Justice and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for investigation and appropriate action.
Based on the affidavits of 26 repatriated fishermen, the workers were made to believe that their jobsite would be in Taiwan, but ended up fishing in the waters of Namibia, a country in the African region.
The two manning agencies identified as Trioceanic Manning & Shipping, Inc. and Diamond H Marine Services & Shipping Agency have already appeared before the DMW and were able to pay the back wages due to the affected fishermen.
Moreover, the DMW is investigating the principals involved in the Namibian case, namely: Shang Chi Enterprise Ltd, One Marine Services, Inc. and Arrow Marine PTE, Ltd.
