THE MAGNA CARTA OF FILIPINO SEAFARERS

               

                           Introduced by SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA

                             Explanatory Note

 

This bill seeks to recognize and protect the rights of the Filipino seafarers,

integrate programs and policies that concern them, and assist in their

development to continuously ensure their niche in the global arena through the

establishment of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.

Filipino seafarers have been plying the world’s seas for over five centuries. In

the 16th century, Filipino seafarers manned the ships sailing the Mexico-Manlla

route of the Galleon Trade.

The advent of globalization led to the steady increase in the number of

registered seafarers. Today, the Philippines is considered the world’s ship

manning capital because it accounts for 30 percent of the 1.2 million seafarers

in the global shipping fleet today.

Despite the rich history and significant role of the Filipino seafarers in our

society, they have been given inadequate attention. Incidents of abduction,

unjust compensation and on-board accidents have been reported yet no

legislation has been passed to protect and uphold the rights of the seafarers

and address their specific needs.

This measure seeks to deal with the shortcoming by creating a set of laws that

focuses on the conditions and needs of the Filipino seafarer. The Magna Carta

of Filipino Seafarers guarantees their right to humane working conditions and

just compensation by ensuring that manning and crewing agencies provide

adequate information about the on-board conditions as well as local and

international laws that apply to the Filipino seafarer. Seafarers should be given

ample time by the agency to examine his/her contract of emplomient and

articles of agreement before he/she signs it. To ensure the security and safety

of the overseas Filipino seafarers, they shall only be deployed in countries

where their rights as Filipino sea-based migrant workers are observed and protected.

With the passage of thrs bill, more Filipinos will be given the knowledge and

understanding of the transnational and globalized conditions the Filipino

seafarers are experiencing through the establishment of the Filipino Seafarers’

Research and Resource Center by the Commission on Higher Education, in

coordination with the University of the Philippines School of Labor and

Industrial relations (UP SO LAIR). 

 

Source,

 http://senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2368320324!.pdf