Legarda Pushes Stronger Seafarer Protection, Cites Landmark Maritime Labour Convention

Senator Loren Legarda called for stronger enforcement of international labor standards and Philippine laws protecting Filipino seafarers as the country joins the global observance of World Maritime Day on September 24.

Legarda emphasized that maritime regulations must translate into fair employment contracts, timely payment of wages, adequate rest periods, access to medical care, and safe working and living conditions aboard ships.

“Ipinaglaban natin ang mga pamantayang ito dahil nararapat lang na siguraduhin natin ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga seafarers. Dapat malinaw ang kanilang kontrata, nasa oras ang kanilang sahod, may sapat silang pahinga, at may access sa serbisyong medikal habang nasa barko. Kapag may paglabag, dapat mayroon silang maaasahang mekanismo para ireklamo ito at makakuha ng nararapat na tulong,” Legarda said.

Legarda has long championed the protection of seafarers’ rights. Her legislative work on the issue dates back to 2007, when she filed Senate Bill No. 1401, an earlier version of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in 2012, she also authored and sponsored Senate Resolution No. 829, which sought the Senate’s concurrence in the ratification of the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

The MLC establishes international minimum standards for seafarers’ employment agreements, wages, working hours and rest periods, accommodation, food, occupational health and safety, medical care, repatriation, and access to complaint procedures. It also provides a framework for ensuring compliance with these standards through inspections and enforcement.

“Noong 2012, isinulong natin ang Maritime Labour Convention upang magkaroon ng mas matibay na proteksyon ang ating mga marino laban sa hindi makatarungang kondisyon sa trabaho,” Legarda said.

The Philippines became the 30th ILO member state to have its ratification of the MLC registered on August 20, 2012, fulfilling the final requirement for the Convention to enter into force as binding international law on August 20, 2013.

The ILO described the Philippine ratification as a global milestone in establishing international standards for decent work for seafarers.

“Malaki ang naging papel ng Pilipinas sa pagpasok sa bisa ng Convention, ngunit hindi nagtatapos sa ratipikasyon ang ating responsibilidad. Ang mga pamantayang ating sinuportahan ay dapat naipatutupad at nasusunod sa mismong pinagtatrabahuhan ng ating mga marino,” Legarda emphasized.

The observance of World Maritime Day also follows the second anniversary of Republic Act No. 12021, or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, enacted on September 23, 2024.

Legarda, author and co-sponsor of the law, emphasized that the Magna Carta builds on the country’s international commitments by recognizing the MLC, 2006, as amended, among the standards guiding the protection of Filipino seafarers.

The law provides for the protection of seafarers’ rights and welfare, decent working and living conditions, standardized employment terms, education and training, and strengthened administrative and welfare services for seafarers and their families.

“Dalawang taon na ang Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. Ang mahalaga ngayon ay masiguro na ang bawat marinong saklaw ng batas ay may malinaw na kontrata, nababayaran nang tama batay sa oras at bigat ng kanilang trabaho, at may malalapitan kapag nilalabag ang kanyang mga karapatan. Hindi dapat mahirapan ang isang marino na humingi ng tulong dahil lamang nasa laot siya o malayo sa kanyang pamilya,” Legarda said.

According to preliminary data from the Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippines recorded 589,179 deployments of Filipino seafarers in 2025, underscoring the importance of employment protections for the country’s maritime workforce.

This year’s World Maritime Day carries the International Maritime Organization’s 2026–2027 theme, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” which emphasizes translating international maritime regulations into national legislation, effective enforcement, and day-to-day operations across the maritime sector.

“Ang World Maritime Day ay paalala na ang mga batas at international standards ay may kabuluhan lamang kapag naipatutupad ng maayos. Mula sa Maritime Labour Convention hanggang sa Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, ang ating layunin ay matiyak na ang bawat Pilipinong marino ay nagtatrabaho sa ligtas at makatarungang kondisyon, tumatanggap ng nararapat na benepisyo at pasahod, at may tunay na proteksyon kapag nalalagay sa panganib ang kanyang kalusugan, kaligtasan, at mga karapatan,” Legarda concluded. (30)