what is magna carta for seafarer

The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is a proposed bill that aims to secure the rights of Filipino seafarers to decent, just, and humane conditions aboard sea-going vessels, and sets guidelines for their training and education, overseas employment, and retirement. The bill covers Filipino seafarers who are employed or engaged or work in any capacity on board foreign-registered ships and Philippine-registered ships engaged in foreign voyages. The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers was already approved by the House of Representatives (House Bill No. 7325) on final reading on March 6 this year with 304 affirmative votes. The bill is currently pending in the Senate. The Senate has approved on final reading the Magna Carta of seafarers, which seeks to outline the rights of Filipino mariners and sets guidelines for their training and overseas employment. The bill covers seafarers’ social welfare benefits, grievance system, and reintegration program. It also seeks to address “deficiencies” in domestic laws pertaining to Filipino seafarers’ training and accreditation, which “endanger their employment” in the global maritime industry. However, there are advocacy groups protesting against the provision and the proposed Magna Carta for Seafarers itself, saying that they disregard the rights of fisherfolk who, under the law, are also entitled to the same rights as seafarers.