PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, BRUSSELS ASSISTS FILIPINO ‘MV BIG FISH’ CREWMEMBERS ADDRESS WORK-RELATED ISSUES

26 June 2006 – The Philippine Embassy in Brussels, Belgium in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Paris, France sent Labor Attaché Ciriaco A. Lagunzad, Jr. and Filipino chaplain Fr. Jorgedy Bago to visit 15 Filipino crewmembers of the M/V Big Fish on 21 June 2006 to assist them in addressing work-related issues in their employment contract.  The Filipino crewmen had started a work stoppage on 15 June 2006 in Dunkerkque, France to negotiate for higher salaries and better working conditions. Negotiations between the workers and the representative of the France P&I, insurers of the ship owners resulted in the crewmembers returning to their work after assurances made by management that there would be no retaliation as a result of the action they had taken. Also, the former ship captain was replaced.    This information was relayed by the new ship captain and later confirmed by the representative of France P&I to the Labor Attaché in Brussels who, in turn, informed the Philippine Embassy in Paris.   Upon the instructions of the Embassy in Brussels and in consultations with the Embassy in Paris, Labor Attaché Lagunzad and Fr. Jorgedy Bago visited the seamen to check on their condition and verify the terms of the settlement.  The crewmembers were likewise assured that their employment contracts are legal and binding because it was verified by POEA.  Several crewmembers who were interviewed said that the settlement was fair and acceptable.