seafarers

(Source: Presser 2017)

I've had this article, "Below Deck" by Lizzie Presser saved on Pocket for sometime but haven't gotten around to reading it until today. Reading about the unsafe working conditions of Filipino seafarers reminded me of farm workers in industrialized food production systems who are also exposed to dangerous and difficult work. The adapted corporate style of dealing and handling laborers seem to transcend industries. We see top management in collusion with their hired lawyers, doctors and managers shortchanging workers of any kind of rights and benefits. They also bully, threaten and silence laborers from saying anything.

Economic prosperity continues to be the theme behind stories of migrant workers. Laborers seek overseas jobs to earn money to support their families and better their social status even under hard working conditions. Big corporations like cruise monopolies squeeze those at the bottom so that they can consolidate all the profits to themselves with little thought or consideration of the contribution of laborers to their empires. It does not help that they have hired doctors and managers who will support the monopolies at the detriment of the health and safety of workers. They work to enforce and make sure that laborers are checked and stay in line.

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This story fits in with a book that I bought on my last trip to the Philippines. It's called Filipino Crosscurrents by Kale Bantigue Fajardo. I haven't read it yet but when I do, I'll update this entry.