Filipino seafarers overseas employment exceeds mark in ‘05

Filipino seafarers overseas employment exceeds mark in ‘05

Jan 13, 2006
Updated 04:47pm (Mla time)
Veronica Uy
INQ7.net

THE total global employment contracts processed for overseas Filipino seafarers surpassed the 300,000 mark in 2005, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said Friday. She said 302,328 overseas Filipino seafarers contracts were processed globally in 2005, a 3.7 percent increase from last year’s 291,516 processed contracts.

The increase shows the global "demand and preferences" for Filipino seafarers, Sto. Tomas said. The labor chief said the 2005 contracts comprised a third of the 981,337 employment processed for both land- and sea-based overseas Filipino workers in 2005. Earlier, Sto. Tomas said the global maritime industry will need some 35,000 officers in the next five to 10 years.