Netherlands Institute for Human Rights: Dutch ship owners unlawfully discriminate against Filipino and Indonesian seafarers

The Equal Justice Equal Pay Foundation supported two Filipino and Indonesian seafarers who filed complaints with the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (Institute) in July of 2023. The hearing took place in two sessions, one in October 2024 and one in January 2025. The Institute was asked to rule about the unequal pay of the seafarers. 

On the 18th of August 2025, the Institute ruled that this constitutes unlawful discrimination. More specifically, the Institute

• ruled that the two Dutch ship owners unlawfully discriminated against two seafarers from the Philippines and Indonesia; 
• explicitly recognized that seafarers conduct very hard work and work long hours in order to support their entire families who they have to leave back home;
• found that seafarers from Indonesia or the Philippines earn significantly less than seafarers from the EU;
• recognizes that the difference in pay affects seafarers’ well-being by creating a “class inequality” on board between EU seafarers and those from Indonesia or the Philippines; and
• concludes that this discrimination cannot be justified by the economic impact of higher wages for ship owners or by international law. 

This is a big win for all seafarers and for the protection of human rights. In particular, the decision is an important step in proving the unlawfulness of discriminatory practices on Dutch ships. 

What is next?

The decision is non-binding, but it does have impact. We are preparing to file a class action with a Dutch Court to represent all Indonesian and Filipino seafarers to build upon this claim. In this class action, we want to claim damages on behalf of Indonesian and Filipino seafarers and recover the difference in back-pay from the last 5 years for these seafarers. 

How can you participate?

Indonesian and Filipino seafarers can register to become a part of this class action by registering on seafarersclaim.com . New seafarers continue to join our case every day. Almost 14,000 Filipino and Indonesian sailors have now expressed an interest in joining our cause.

We are very grateful for all the support and happy that the Institute ruled in favor of the Indonesian and Filipino seafarers we represent.