A Filipino seafarer has won a case against wage discrimination on Dutch ships. The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights ruled that pay should be equal for all races and nationalities working on their ships. However, the Filipino seafarer died three months before he saw the victory.
According to the decision, the shipping company did not have sufficient reasons for the unequal wages. As a result, it was proven that there was discrimination based on race and nationality. The shipowners were ordered to submit a plan on how they could avoid this situation in the future.
In 2024, the seafarer shared his stroke after working on a chemical tanker. He said he was not given proper medical assistance by his employer. “My life is shorter… if I die, I hope this fight for the future of seafarers and migrant workers will continue,” he said at the time.
He passed away on May 19, 2025. He is survived by his wife who gave the message that their children, ages 11 and 3, should grow up in a world free from discrimination. He added that even though his wife's body succumbed to the disease, her story is a testament to strength and dignity.
