Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Partylist Rep. Marissa Magsino celebrated her first term victory on Monday, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signing the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers into law as Republic Act No. (RA) 12021, after decades of congressional discussion.
RA 12021 aims to safeguard the rights and interests of Filipino seafarers by ensuring full protection before, during, and after employment, particularly in cases of maritime accidents, epidemics, or crises, while guaranteeing fundamental rights such as a safe workplace, fair employment terms, decent living conditions, health protection, and access to medical care for those working on both foreign-registered and Philippine-registered ships.
The law also provides for the seafarers’ right to self-organization, freedom from discrimination, and the right of the families to be informed involving accidents, etc. Educational opportunities, legal representation, and grievance mechanisms are also provided, along with fair treatment and medical assessment in accidents.
The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is the country’s response to our commitment as a signatory to the Maritime Labor Convention and the Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers.
“From navigating the world’s oceans to facilitating international trade, Filipino seafarers have played a vital role in driving the maritime sector forward. Their dedication, hard work, and resilience have not only contributed to the growth of our economy, but have also strengthened our position as a key player in the global shipping industry. With the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers now in place, our seafarers can look forward to greater protection of their rights and welfare, ensuring that their contributions are duly recognized and respected,” said Magsino.
This legislative triumph comes after years of advocacy and collaboration with the stakeholders despite the importance of Filipino seafarers in the global maritime industry. Filipino seafarers are considered key global workers who help expedite the movement of about 90% of goods worldwide and it is estimated that there is one Filipino seafarer for every four to five crew members on board a vessel at any time.
According to the BIMCO/ICS Seafarer Workforce Report in 2021, the largest supplier for both officers and ratings was the Philippines, followed by the Russian Federation, Indonesia, China, and India.
“Ang tagal nang isinusulong na magkaroon ng Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. This measure has been discussed then put off, brought back to life then shelved again for the past decades. But finally, Congress has passed the Magna Carta of Filipino seafarers, giving them the recognition and protection they rightly deserve,” said Magsino.
“At ako’y lubos na natutuwa na kabahagi ang OFW Party List sa makasaysayang batas na ito. Ngunit batid natin na ito’y naisapinal lamang dahil sa suporta ng maritime industry stakeholders, ng ating House and Senate leadership, at ng ating mahal na presidente na buo ang suporta sa Pilipinong marino dahil alam ni PBBM na ang Filipino seafarers ay nagbibigay ng karangalan sa bansa at sila’y tunay na mga bida ng ating bayan,” she added.
