THE RECENT Sept. 2 sinking of livestock carrier Gulf Livestock 1 – with 43 crew (over 30 were Filipinos, 12 of whom were residents of Western Visayas) – in the waters southwest of Japan further amplified the fact that the seafaring profession has unique demands and conditions, thus, we must guarantee that our seafarers are given equal attention and protection.
This is all the more needed because Western Visayas is a major supplier of competent and able seafarers who meet international requirements and maintain their edge over their foreign counterparts.
Generally, however, the Filipino seafarers’ welfare has been given inadequate attention. Despite incidents of abduction, unjust compensation and on-board accidents, no legislation has been passed to protect and uphold their rights. Most of the policies and programs catering to the needs of migrant workers are designed for land-based workers only.
Various policies to protect the welfare of our seafarers are scattered in numerous existing laws. This indicates a need for a more comprehensive legislation that will cover all these provisions, while at the same time complying with international maritime standards.
We don’t even have a magna carta for seafarers yet that would guarantee their right to humane working conditions and just compensation through ensuring that manning and crewing agencies provide adequate information about on-board conditions as well as local and international laws that apply to Filipino seafarers.
It really helps to have a centralized government agency that will provide the necessary services, supervision, regulation and guidance which our Filipino seafarers need.
Due to the sheer number of Filipino seafarers that help keep our economy afloat with their dollar remittances, it is but proper that we institutionalize mechanisms that provide better protection of their rights and welfare. Our maritime workers are important human resources.
