The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued new guidelines to expedite the implementation of claims and ensure faster access to monetary awards for Filipino seafarers.
The new guidelines are stipulated in the Department Order No. 247 series of 2025 signed by DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma wherein it establishes clear procedures for enforcing decisions made by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and voluntary arbitrators under the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).
The order streamlines the claims process by distinguishing between undisputed and disputed claims.
It allows the immediate enforcement of undisputed claims, such as unpaid salaries and disability compensation, once a decision becomes final—without the need for a bond.
Disputed claims, including damages and attorney’s fees, will require a bond to ensure compensation if the decision is later overturned.
Laguesma emphasized that the bond requirement applies only to disputed amounts, ensuring prompt payment for seafarers while addressing employers' concerns regarding potential reversals.
Developed in consultation with the NLRC, NCMB, and tripartite stakeholders, the guidelines also include provisions for timely remedies and reimbursement of bond costs if the court upholds disputed claims.
The order follows the recent issuance of implementing rules and regulations for the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and responds to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call for coordinated efforts to effectively enforce the Magna Carta effectively.
Laguesma urged all concerned parties to support the implementation of the order, which will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.