Some 50,000 Filipino seafarers working on European Union-flagged merchant vessels are at risk of losing their job should the Philippines fail to comply with the revised Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Convention.

This was revealed during the congressional hearing by the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs last week.

The committee received information that November is when the final audit of the country's compliance with the international convention for seafarer competency by the European Maritime Safety Agency.

A failing mark on the country's STCW compliance could negatively impact the country's global status as the world seafaring hub, according to a statement from the panel.

Concerns raised by EMSA assessors years ago remain unsettled.

"The country has not been able to pass the EMSA audit since 2006, or for more than a decade. I was informed that this would be the final year for the Philippines to adopt corrective measures toward full compliance," according to the Department of Migrant Workers Assistant Secretary for Sea-based Services, Jerome Pampolina.