Filipinos take to the streets protesting against the escrow provision for seafarers and fisherfolks.
A group of human rights lawyers in the Philippines has declared its opposition against the inclusion of the escrow provision in the proposed House Bill “An Act Instituting the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers” for being “constitutionally infirm, for discriminating against seafarers and for being adverse to the rights of labor.”
The proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is designed to provide seafarers with comprehensive protection before, during and after employment, especially in the event of maritime accidents, epidemics or pandemics, or other natural or man-made crises. It codifies the rights of seafarers into a single reference law, seeks to secure their rights to decent, just and humane conditions of employment, and set a guide for their training and education, overseas employment and ultimately retirement.
To the international community, the Magna Carta for Seafarers is an affirmation of the Philippines’ commitment to the maritime industry and adherence to the Maritime Labor Convention of 2006, where the Philippines stands as the 30th ILO Member state to ratify.
