Of the 1.5 million seafarers in the world, 25% are Filipinos, making up the backbone of the global maritime industry. The ‘Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers’, initially approved by the House of Representatives eight months ago, seeks to protect seafarers rights and improve their welfare – with four key provisions in the Senate today.
Senate Bill No. 2369 or “An Act Instituting the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers” was submitted by Committees on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development; and Foreign Relations; with principal sponsor Sen. Joel Villanueva and co-sponsors Senators Zubiri, Revilla, Jr., Angara, Hontiveros, Villar, and Go.
The bill provides for the protection of Filipino seafarers’ rights to just terms and conditions of work; a safe and secure environment that complies with safety standards; self-organization and engage in collective bargaining; educational advancement and training at reasonable costs; free legal consultation, and; access to communication facilities.
As the Senate tackled the bill today, the four key provisions that were set in place include:
1. That seafarers be given the power to decide on their desired point of destination, instead of repatriating them to the point of hire;
2. That seafarers be allowed repatriation due to compassionate grounds, such as death within a third-degree affinity; and urgent reasons such as an emotional or psychological problem;
3. That seafarers have the right against discrimination based on race, age, sex, religion, or political opinion, even before the process of employment screening, and;
4. That seafarers be allowed credit delivery or financial assistance for alternative sustainable livelihood programs, educational, career, and personal advancement, among others.
For the longest time, Filipino seafarers have been one of the marginalized sectors in the Philippines. As the bill gains prominence in the Senate, its principal author Marino Partylist First Representative Sandro Gonzalez seeks to uplift Filipino seafarers’ standard of living and modernize the Philippine maritime industry.
“I thank my fellow public servants in the Senate for supporting our Magna Carta bill,” Rep. Sandro Gonzalez said. “An institutional bill must be forged to implement the best conditions for our hardworking mariners. As we in Marino Partylist continue to establish laws that support their well-being, the more we can enhance the industry and create more jobs, especially for our sea-based OFWs.”
