03 Dec The Advantages of Hiring Filipino Seafarers
Several shipping companies from all over the globe tend to look for seafarers who are reliable, hardworking, and flexible. In a 2011 report, over a third of the world’s seafarers are Filipinos. This is not surprising since the Philippines is considered a major supplier of maritime labor around the world. Several companies from Japan and Europe have continuously hired Filipinos as maritime personnel and it the demand doesn’t seem to stop anytime soon.
In fact in 2013, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) showcased that there are approximately 367,166 Filipino seafarers with POEA-approved contracts. In the year 2014, over $575,722,000 USD dollars were brought by seafarers as dollar remittances which comprise at least 22% of the total dollar remittances brought by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
From luxury cruise ships, to tankers, and even container ships; here are some reasons why shipping companies continuously hire Filipino workers:
It is in their nature
The Philippines is an archipelago with over 7,107 islands and counting. Its coastline is approximately 36, 289 km which is more than what the United States, United Kingdom, and China have. With this information in mind, it is almost natural for Filipinos to have mariner’s instincts and work despite being separated from their families for certain periods of time.
They are adventurous
Due to their adventurous spirit, many Filipinos have a natural love for exploring the sea and are more than happy to travel wherever the ship take them. In fact, it might even be a challenge for somebody to find a person from the Philippines who isn’t fond of the sea in general.
Shows dedication and discipline
Most Filipino seafarers prioritize their family above all else and that means willing to make sacrifices to make ends meet. It’s not uncommon for a family’s breadwinner to work abroad and send money to their family. While it’s difficult for some households, there’s certain resilience that Filipinos have that clearly shows on their work performance.
They speak great English
English is one of the most spoken languages in the Philippines although not everyone is fluent. More often than not, there is a requirement for Filipinos to at least be able to understand conversational English which is a must especially when working with ship owners around the world.
They are flexible
This means working overtime when necessary especially when certain projects have not yet meet their deadline. In addition, the Philippines itself has been a Spanish colony in the 16th century with colonial influences from other countries as well. This enables them to easily get along with foreigners and their attitude.
Highly-trainable
Filipinos understand that technologies constantly change everyday. In order to be able to compete globally, they understand the necessity to adapt to new technologies and are more than willing to undergo extra training.
Value teamwork
Most Filipinos are social people that like to enjoy life and spend it with the people around them. During work, they understand that teamwork is what keeps a business stable which is why they work hard to get along with everyone around them.
Their positive attitude
At an early age, Filipinos were taught to think positive and see every setback in life as a challenge. While problems are certainly unavoidable, most Filipinos tend to look on the bright side to avoid getting too stressed out by it. After all, like most things in life, these problems too shall pass.
While there is no doubt that Filipino seafarers are one of the most hardworking individuals, there are some issues that need to be addressed. For instance, illegal recruitment and limited contracts are practiced by some shipping companies can put most workers are risk. Because of the economic instability in the country, most seafarers are willing to take jobs that pay less while also performing extra work which can gradually take a toll on their physical and mental health.
Thankfully, the Philippine government has taken measures to help in protecting the rights and privileges of seafarers and their families. This includes creating laws that prevent exploitation as well as legal lectures to help seafarers recognize their rights. One of the best ways to secure topnotch Filipino seafarers would be to tap into companies with ship safety management experience so that you are assured top quality service, while making sure that their rights are being met as well.