A Dutch foundation is preparing a collective legal claim on behalf of approximately 23,000 Filipino seafarers who allegedly received significantly lower wages than Dutch and German colleagues performing comparable work aboard Dutch ships.
The wage differences are based on the country-of-residence principle, under which salaries reflect living costs in the seafarer’s home country. In 2025, the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights concluded in two individual cases that differences based on a seafarer’s country of residence constituted discrimination.
The claim reportedly targets both Dutch shipowners and the Dutch State and could seek back pay dating to 2016. The case may have consequences for ferry and RoRo operators sailing under the Dutch flag if they employ non-European seafarers under similar arrangements. Possible effects include substantially higher crewing costs, retrospective claims and changes to crewing or flag strategies.
However, the legal proceedings are still at an early stage. Their wider impact will depend on whether the claim is admitted, the eventual judgment and which employment arrangements and collective agreements fall within its scope.
Industry representatives warn that abolishing the existing system in the Netherlands without international coordination could weaken the competitiveness of the Dutch fleet. The case will therefore be important to follow for Dutch-flagged ferry and RoRo operators.