Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo today commended the Philippine Embassy in Papua New Guinea for successfully mediating the labor dispute between the striking Filipino fishermen and their employer, RD Tuna Ventures Inc. with the Filipino workers now performing their assigned tasks and the employer agreeing to address their grievances.

Acting upon instructions of Secretary Romulo, which were coordinated closely with DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Jose Brillantes, Philippine Ambassador to Port Moresby Bienvenido Tejano and the Embassy legal officer Hermoso Belarmino, boarded the largest of the fishing vessels under the control of the striking fishermen to dialogue with the leader of the strikers, Boat Captain Angelito Abastas, and the 200-strong strikers. The fishermen work aboard 15 Philippine-flagged fishing boats owned by RD Tuna Ventures. Ambassador Tejano was instructed to expediently and peacefully resolve the labor dispute.

Through the intercession of Ambassador Tejano, the owner of RD Tuna Ventures, Inc. was also brought to the negotiating table yesterday. After hours of negotiations, RD Tuna Management agreed to look into the work-related grievances of the striking fishermen. The main points agreed upon were:

· For RD Tuna Management to look into the salaries and compensation package of the crew for a possible increase;

· For the fishing vessels to have adequate supply of medicine, potable water and food; and

· For fishermen to be allowed to go on shore leave after seven months of continuous duty.

In the course of the negotiations, the fishermen were made to understand that being employed aboard Philippine-registered fishing vessels, the resolution of their grievances would be governed by the Philippine labor code. After the negotiations, a great majority of the fishermen agreed to return to work, though some wished to be repatriated instead. RD Tuna expressed willingness to pay for the airfare home of the repatriates.

With the peaceful and mutually acceptable settlement of the dispute between the striking fishermen and RD Tuna Management, it was also agreed that no charges would be filed by any party against one another. RD Tuna Ventures, Inc. expressed its appreciation to Ambassador Tejano and to the Philippine government for intervening in the labor dispute, bringing about its successful and peaceful resolution.

On 29 August 2004, Ambassador Tejano reported to the DFA that over 150 Filipino fishermen cut the moorings of 10 Philippine-registered fishing vessels of RD Tuna and have brought these vessels out to the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea, as a means of conveying their employment-related grievances. After looking closely into the labor dispute, Ambassador Tejano later reported that the actual number of strikers was closer to 200 and that they took control of 15 fishing vessels owned by RD Tuna Ventures, Inc. He also reported that an indeterminate number of smaller “back up” boats surrounded the 15 vessels under the control of the strikers.

On 31 August, Papua New Guinea law enforcement, customs and immigration authorities attempted to resolve the seizure of the fishing vessels by the Filipino fishermen but were prevailed upon by Ambassador Tejano to desist from using force. The Ambassador made representations with the local authorities to give time for the Philippine diplomatic representatives to resolve the situation through peaceful negotiations.