Seafarers' Magna Carta signed into law

(UPDATES) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday led the ceremonial signing of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, an initiative aimed at further uplifting the lives and welfare of the nation's mariners. Stressing his administration's commitment to protect the rights and overall welfare of domestic and overseas Filipino seafarers, as well as promote their full employment, the Chief Executive certified as urgent the legislation last year. "It is our way of telling our seafarers, 'We see you, we hear you, and we are here to support you,'" Marcos said during the ceremony held in Malacañang. In signing the Magna Carta, Marcos expressed confidence that the country would further improve its compliance with the Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention, benefiting Filipino seafarers. "This will seamlessly align with the Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping or STCW, as well as the accepted global maritime labor laws. By creating a more robust certification process, we ensure that our seafarers are not just compliant but exceptional and equipped to meet the demands of an evolving maritime industry," he said. "Clear protocols for grievances and disputes are also enforced to help resolve issues and concerns of our seafarers. This Magna Carta will also strengthen the role of our maritime institutions and stakeholders by setting the standards for the quality of accommodation, food, medical care, and other services that are provided for seafarers," he said. Among those also mandated by Republic Act 12021 include the seafarers' right to just terms and conditions of work, right to self-organization and to collective bargaining, right to educational advancement and training at reasonable and affordable costs, right to information, right to information of a seafarer's family or next of kin, and right against discrimination. "This is our pledge: to sail with you every step of the way until you find your way home safely back to the Bagong Pilipinas," the President said. The Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines saw the enactment of the new law as an "important victory for Filipino seafarers serving onboard both domestic and international vessels," as this ensures the Philippines' compliance with the Maritime Labor Convention, which protects and promotes the welfare of all seafarers "and encompasses comprehensive safeguards to uphold their rights to decent, just and gainful employment." On the other hand, the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA) said the landmark legislation addresses the "unique challenges" faced by Filipino mariners and is a step forward in ensuring fair treatment, improved working conditions, and stronger legal protections. "ALMA 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," the group said in a statement. Marcos was supposed to sign into law the Magna Carta in February, but this was deferred at the last moment pending the review of a controversial provision that required seafarers to pay an execution bond before receiving monetary benefits resulting from their disability.