QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — In its bid to improve the welfare of Filipino seafarers, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in collaboration with the Maritime Industry Authority and the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council, has convened to finalize the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Republic Act No. 12021, also known as the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.
According to a Facebook post by the DMW, the meeting was held at the DMW Central Office on January 6, bringing together key stakeholders from the maritime industry, including labor representatives, government officials, and management.
The group meticulously reviewed the IRR to ensure comprehensive coverage of the law’s critical provisions.
The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on September 23, 2024, is designed to safeguard the fundamental rights of Filipino seafarers, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and opportunities for skills and competency development.
“This will seamlessly align with the Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping or STCW, as well as the accepted global maritime labor laws,” Marcos said during the ceremonial signing of the Magna Carta at Malacañang.
The President emphasized that the Magna Carta will establish a stronger certification process, stating, “By creating a more robust certification process, we ensure that our seafarers are not just compliant but exceptional and equipped to meet the demands of an evolving maritime industry.”
The finalization of the IRR marks a significant step forward in ensuring the effective implementation of the Magna Carta, which aims to provide Filipino seafarers with the necessary protections and opportunities to thrive in the global maritime industry. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
(Photo: DMW)
