Gov’t agencies, stakeholders in Caraga Region to ink agreement promoting local seafarers’ welfare

By Robert E. Roperos

Sunday 29th of July 2012

BUTUAN CITY, July 29 (PIA) -- Government agencies and stakeholders in Caraga Region are set to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to promote the welfare of the local seafarers.

In a statement, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Caraga Regional Director Ofelia Domingo said the activity will be presented and consequently signed during the Forum on the Working Conditions of Filipino Seafarers in the Domestic Shipping Industry on Monday, July 30, 2012.

Dir. Domingo also said the MOA will showcase the concerted effort of the various agencies and private companies including local organizations on the implementation, monitoring and regulation of pertinent laws on the local seafarers.

The region’s labor chief added this developed after the Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016 has identified the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 as one of the priorities for ratification as it is a landmark international convention that would promote the rights of millions of Filipino workers.

Under the agreement, DOLE-Caraga shall promote and enforce the rights of the local seafarers in accordance to the provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines, strictly implement its visitorial powers through a joint inspection with other agencies of the government concerned with the domestic shipping lines, encourage formation of harbor or seafarers organization that would promote the well-being of local or domestic seafarers, as well as extend other assistance that are deemed necessary.

For the part of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), they are tasked to include in its regulation and monitoring the compliance of domestic shipping lines to wage standardization and occupational safety and health, spearhead joint inspection of the domestic fleet, as well as extend other assistance.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) shall also promote stringent implementation of the health and fitness requirements of the local seafarers, conduct joint inspection with other agencies of the government, as well as extend other necessary assistance.

Further, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shall ensure the safety and security of the local seafarers plying along the coast of the Philippine sea against piracy and effectively enforce maritime laws on smuggling, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, among others.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), on the other hand, shall include in the agency’s annual communications plan the tri-media information dissemination campaign of the rights, privileges and concerns of local seafarers including but not limited to wage standardization and occupational safety and health in the domestic shipping lines.

Also, the local government of Surigao City shall initiate, conduct and sponsor orientations and/or seminars on the minimum requirements of the Labor Code as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Standards to domestic chipping companies, regularly call for a joint inspection to domestic shipping lines on compliance to labor, safety and health and other regulatory requirements relative to the shipping industry.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Surigao del Norte shall encourage all government entities including local government units – cities, municipalities within the province to initiate, conduct and sponsor orientations and seminars on the minimum requirements of the Labor Code as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Standards to domestic shipping companies, regularly call for a joint inspection to domestic shipping lines on compliance to labor, safety and health and other regulatory requirements relative to the shipping industry.

Mining companies such as the Chamber of Mines-Caraga, shall sponsor orientations and seminars on the minimum requirements of the Labor Code and the Occupational Safety and Health Standards to the partner and/or employed domestic shipping lines of the mining companies.

Also, the Taganito Mining Corporation, Pacific Nickel Philippines Inc., and Cagdianao Mining Corporation, shall make it their company policy to drop from their rolls of employees and/or partners those domestic shipping lines that are not cognizant of the minimum requirements of the Labor Code and Occupational Safety and Health Standards.

On the other hand, the Surigao Motorboat Operators Association (SMOA) shall champion the rights of the local seafarers and strictly abide with the provisions of the Labor Code and the Occupational Safety and Health Standards. (RER – PIA-Caraga)