Here's some potential good news for Filipino seafarers.
The House of Representatives gave its final approval to the proposed “Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers", embodied in House Bill (HB) No.7325, during plenary session late Monday afternoon, March 6.
The measure, which seeks to safeguard the rights and interests of Filipino seafarers and ensure their “full protection before, during, and after employment", garnered 304 affirmative votes during nominal voting for third and final reading.
Four House members entered a negative vote. There were no abstentions.
The bill also aims to develop a pool of competent and world-class seafarers “through a system of education, training, certification, and licensing".
“Our seafarers are our unsung heroes. Almost 400,000 of them are on board merchant shipping vessels around the world at any given time. They are not only a source of income for the country through their remittances but also a source of pride,” House Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
Some of the authors of the bill are Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo, OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado Revilla, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, Ako Bisaya Party-list Rep. Sonny Lagon, and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman.
Covered under HB No.7325 are Filipino seafarers “who are employed or engaged or work in any capacity on board foreign-registered ships and Philippine-registered ships operating internationally".
The measure says that Filipino seafarers have a right to:
* Safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards;
* Fair terms and conditions of employment;
* Decent working and living conditions on board a ship;
* Health protection, welfare measures, medical care;
* Self-organization;
* Information about seafarer’s family;
* Against discrimination;
* Educational advancement and training;
* Relevant information;
* Free legal representation;
* Appropriate grievance mechanism;
* Access to communication;
* Fair treatment in the event of a maritime accident;
* Fair medical assessment.
The bill also lists the duties and responsibilities of seafarers, as well as of ship owners and manning agencies.
It also mandates that the standard employment contract, or SEC, shall be reviewed and approved by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure that the contract stipulations adhere to or protects the rights of seafarers as laid down in the measure.
HB No. 7325 goes to great measures to lay down the protection mechanism for seafarers in cases of epidemics, pandemics, maritime accidents, and other crises, which entitles them to full compensation.
If affected by a pandemic or epidemic, seafarers should be entitled to “medical care, board and lodging for periods spent by a seafarer in quarantine or self-isolation,” as well as “hospitalization and medical treatment when the seafarer is sick or infected – until declared as fully recovered".
“Seafarers shall be entitled to adequate compensation in the case of injury, loss or unemployment arising from the ship’s loss or foundering, in accordance with the SEC or the CBA (collective bargaining agreement),” the bill read.
The Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration is also mandated to establish seafarer welfare facilities or centers in major crew-change ports, “specifically in Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, and other areas.”
“A One-Stop-Shop for Seafarers, which shall have representatives from government agencies that process or issue licenses, permits, clearances, and other documents required by seafarers shall also be established in these welfare centers for the convenience of the seafarers and to maximize the services being offered to them,” HB No.7325 said.