IN what could be considered a reward for braving the pandemic and, in many instances, for serving onboard their ships beyond their contracts, seafarers in over 9,000 ships worldwide will enjoy a 4.5 percent increase in wages and compensation over two years starting January 1, 2022.

Dr. Conrado Oca, president of the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), broke the good news in an interview shortly after the inauguration of the E-Library the seafarers' union donated to the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) last November 25.