Senate OKs bicam report on Magna Carta of seafarers

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 14) — The Senate on Wednesday approved the bicameral conference committee report on the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier certified as urgent.

The report was a reconciled version of the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill 2221 and House Bill 7325.

READ: Marcos certifies proposed magna carta for seafarers as urgent

«Just a little bit more and this Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers will have concluded its long and turbulent journey,» Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the panel on migrant workers, said in his opening statement.

«It is ready to go home to our beloved Filipino seafarers and be a lighthouse to their voyages,» he added.

Here are the provisions made on the reconciled report:

Annual leaves

The House version of the bill requires 2.5 days per month in compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), while the annual leave was pegged at 4.5 days in the Senate version.

According to Tulfo, the bicam members agreed at a compromise of 3.5 days per month of employment.

Shipboard training

The Senate adopted the House version institutionalizing the shipboard training which will be regulated and monitored by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

Tulfo said this will also address repeated concerns on the credentials of Filipino seafarers in compliance with the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

Monetary award

The bicam members also came up with a provision on the execution of judgment and monetary award wherein the winning party would be ensured refund of the disputed monetary award in case of a reversal on appeal.

This was in response to the problem of an unrestituted amount of ₱2.57 billion when cases are reversed in favor of shipowners, the senator said.

The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is said to lay out their rights and ensure their welfare. This will include a reintegration program, a grievance system, and social welfare benefits.