Labor unions laud PBBM signing of Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

FILE: Para sa proteksyon ng mga karapatan ng marinong Pilipino, nilagdaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers ngayong ika-23 ng Setyembre 2024. (Photo: Presidential Communications Office/Facebook)

MANILA – Labor unions hailed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing Republic Act (RA) 12021 or “An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers,” spelling out the rights, welfare, and work conditions of every Filipino seafarer worldwide.

The Associated Labor Unions (ALU), together with the Associated Philippine Seafarers Union (APSU) and the Associated Professional, Supervisory, Office, and Technical Employees Union welcomed the new law as it shows the commitment of the government to protect Filipino seafarers, their families, communities, and the Philippine maritime industry.

In a joint statement on Friday, ALU national president Michael C. Mendoza and national executive vice president Gerard R. Seno said RA 12021 provides better protection for the rights of Filipino seafarers whose contributions are “indispensable and critical” to the Philippine economy and international trade, especially when world economies stood still during the Covid-19 pandemic years ago.

“They were and continue to be our heroes when threats to life and well-being haunted us when the pandemic struck the world. Now that we are rebounding from the health crisis, it is timely that we have established a legal, pro-worker framework that will guide the country’s maritime industry at least in the areas of union formation, fair wages and contracts, health and legal concerns, family care, skills development, and protection while at sea, against discrimination, and unfair fees imposed by agencies, among other concerns,” they said.

Data from the Department of Migrant Workers in 2023 showed the Philippines deployed 578,626 seafarers mainly in passenger vessels, bulk carriers, container vessels, and oil/product tankers worldwide.

It is known that one out of every four seafarers worldwide is Filipino.

Safeguards for Filipino seafarers

The new law has 17 provisions securing the rights of seafarers such as self-organization and collective bargaining, just terms and conditions of work, training programs at a reasonable and affordable cost, safe passage and travel, and fair medical assessment.

Other rights listed are information about a seafarer’s family or next of kin, free legal representation, appropriate grievance mechanisms, protection against all forms of harassment and bullying, and others.

APSU National Vice President for Operations Atty. Generick Humprey V. Morales described RA 12021 as “safeguards” for better work conditions, equitable pay, and access to various services, including mechanisms for grievance redress.

In addition, the law directs manning agencies to limit the cost to seafarers for medical certificates, record books, and travel documents and mandates the Marine Industry Authority to have jurisdiction over maritime education in the country.

The law also requires maritime higher education institutions that offer international maritime degree programs to set up training ships and simulators or enter agreements with shipping companies or manning agencies for student shipboard training.

It also spells out the responsibilities of seafarers to comply with their work contracts and to commit to enhancing their skills and competitiveness.

Morales said the law affirms the fundamental rights of seafarers to self-organize and bargain collectively, empowering labor unions to enhance their organizing efforts with seafarers and manning agencies.

He added that the law gives labor unions leverage to negotiate better terms for their seafarer members.

“Ultimately, it sets a precedent for a more equitable maritime industry, where seafarers’ voices matter,” he added. (PR)