Magna Carta: Ensuring Rights and Welfare for 578,000 Filipino Seafarers

Quezon City First District Representative Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde celebrated the enactment of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers Act, emphasizing its significance in providing peace of mind to over 578,000 Filipino seafarers and their families. Atayde, a key proponent of the law, highlighted its role in safeguarding the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers, who contributed over 6.8 billion US dollars in remittances last year. He stressed the importance of effective implementation by agencies such as the Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Labor and Employment, and Maritime Industry Authority to ensure that both local and international employers adhere to the law’s provisions.

The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers outlines various rights for seafarers, including the right to self-organization, collective bargaining, educational advancement, and free legal representation. Atayde emphasized the need for the establishment of Seafarer Welfare Centers and one-stop shops in key crew-change ports to cater to the recreational, cultural, religious, communication, and legal needs of Filipino seafarers. The law mandates the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to set up these facilities in designated areas like Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Cavite, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro City, and Davao City.

Atayde underscored the importance of ensuring that Filipino seafarers can fully benefit from the Magna Carta through proper enforcement and support services. The law’s provisions aim to protect seafarers from violations of their rights and employment contracts, with the Public Attorney’s Office offering free legal representation, assistance, and counseling to those in need. By prioritizing the establishment of welfare centers and one-stop shops, the government can enhance the well-being and rights of Filipino seafarers working both locally and internationally.

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