The passage of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is a victory for all sea-based Filipino workers onboard the world’s fleets.
This was the common sentiment expressed by three seafarers’ groups on Monday, Sept. 29, as they welcomed the signing by President Marcos Jr. of Republic Act No. 12021.
According to the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (Amosup), an organization championing the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers, the newly-signed law seeks to ensure the country’s compliance with the Maritime Labor Convention of 2006 which protects the rights and promotes the welfare of all seafarers and encompasses comprehensive safeguards to uphold their rights to decent, just, and gainful employment.
“The enactment of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is an important victory for all Filipino seafarers serving onboard both domestic and international vessels,” said Dr. Conrado F. Oca, president of Amosup.
The law prescribes the rights and duties of Filipino sailors, their qualifications, terms of employment, education and training requirements.
It includes provisions on seafarers’ rights and duties, women in the maritime industry, emergency rescue of domestic seafarers, manning levels and crew competency requirements, terms and conditions of employment; accommodation and food; medical care, inspection and enforcement, green lane for overseas and domestic mariners, requirements for Philippine-registered ships on shipboard training, incentives and awards granted to the maritime industry, repatriation, reintegration, education and training and dispute resolution.
Oca said the law is a “gift” and a “wonderful tribute” to the noble and hardworking Filipino seafarers who contribute to the country’s economy, and are “instrumental in moving the world trade, and in keeping the global supply and value chains unhindered.”
“The passage of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers into law is a testament to the Philippine Government’s commitment to protecting the best interests of our sea-based overseas Filipino workers and ensuring that they continue to thrive and succeed in the global maritime industry,” Oca said.
Meanwhile, the Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment Inc. (FAME), an association of agents which promotes the employment of Filipino seamen, said the landmark legislation aims to safeguard the rights, welfare, and working conditions of Filipino seafarers, both domestically and internationally.
“This newly signed law not only acknowledges the invaluable contributions of Filipino seafarers, often dubbed as modern-day heroes, but also addresses the challenges they face both on and off the ship,”
The signing of the law comes at a crucial time that Filipino seafarers’ safety and security are at risk due to the tensions in the Middle East what with the aggression of the Houthi movement in Yemen against merchant and naval vessels in the Red Sea since October 2023.
Several Filipino crew onboard foreign merchant vessels have been injured, taken hostage, or killed when Houthi fighters attacked their ships as they passed through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
For the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA), the new law is designed to safeguard the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers, which helps them to address their unique challenges they face in their profession.
According to its website, ALMA is a non-profit/non-stock organization composed of 71 licensed Philippine manning agencies and ship managers deploying 174,000 Filipino seafarers onboard international merchant ships at any given time.
“The Magna Carta acknowledges that seafarers are a distinct group of workers, subject to specialized working conditions, and international regulations. Recognizing this, the law aims to provide comprehensive protection for Filipino seafarers against unfair and abusive practices that specifically target them,” ALMA said.
The group said that the legislation is a step forward in ensuring fair treatment, improved working conditions, and stronger legal protections.
“ALMA (Association of Licensed Manning Agencies) firmly believes that the enactment of the Magna Carta will lead to a more secure future for all Filipino seafarers. This increased protection will not only shield them from harmful systems but also open up more job opportunities and contribute to a stronger and more robust seafaring industry,” it noted.
The Philippines is one of the world's largest producers of top-notch seafarers, with the country being included in the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) "White List" in May, indicating its full compliance with the International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) of 1978 as amended.