POEA: No direct hiring of workers for cruise ships

MANILA, Philippines – The government does not allow direct hiring of Filipinos for international cruise ships, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Friday.

POEA chief Hans Leo Cacdac said there is no truth to reports that international shipping company Royal Carribean Cruise Line is setting up a direct hiring center in the Philippines for easier recruitment of applicants.

“Those who wish to apply with the Royal Cruise Line must pass through the recruitment agency, Philippine Trans Marine Carrier,” he said.

Cacdac stressed that POEA rules prohibit direct hiring of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) except for selected employers, such as diplomats and international organizations.

Under the existing POEA rules, the general procedure for the recruitment and deployment of OFWs is through POEA-licensed recruitment agencies. Agency-hired workers are protected under existing regulations such as bonding requirements for licensed recruitment agencies, which guarantees compliance with the terms of the employment contract, particularly relating to the worker’s money claims.

POEA said in direct hiring, recruitment agencies are not involved and compliance with the contract is therefore dependent on the capability of the foreign employer.

Cacdac confirmed that Royal Carribean intends to hire about 30,000 Filipino workers.

“The shipping company will hire hotel employees who are willing to work in cruise ships,” he said, noting that hotel workers will undergo safety courses and other process required for ordinary seafarers.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) earlier reported that luxury travel trend is growing, which means more jobs for Filipinos in cruise ships.

Labor officials said international shipping companies prefer to hire Filipinos as indicated in the steadily increasing number of Filipino seafarers deployed abroad annually.