1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA III 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers and 
their families, thus enacting the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. 
The Philippines is the 30th Member State to ratify the International Maritime Labor 
Convention of 2006 (MLC 2006). This ratification was indeed appropriate, as Filipino seafarers 
make up more than thirty percent (30%) of the seafarers on the global shipping fleet.  And as an 
archipelago with more than 7,107 islands, the Philippines is home to thousands of local seafarers 
manning domestic ships. 
MLC 2006 calls on all State Parties to secure the right of all seafarers to decent and humane 
employment.  Accordingly, the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is the answer to that call. This 
magna carta seeks to ensure protection of the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino seafarers and 
their families. It also specifically seeks to recognize the rights of Filipino seafarers, institute 
mechanisms for the enforcement and protection thereof, provide compulsory benefits, and 
implement the standards set by MLC 2006. 
As of 2020, there are 217,223 Filipino seafarers. Prior to the pandemic, we deployed almost 
half a million seafarers every year. This is a bold testament that Filipinos and our seafarers can be 
found in every corner of the globe, may it be over land or at sea. 
Because of the undeniable contribution of our Filipino seafarers to our nation’s economy, 
it is but fitting that we make advances to ensure that their rights are protected, starting with a 
contract that favors both our Filipino seafarers and their employers, up to a decent place of work 
coupled with a nurturing work environment. 
  In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III 
LANI MERCADO-REVILLA 
BRYAN B. REVILLA 
September 7, 2022
4:47 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA III 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTING THE MAGNA CARTA OF FILIPINO SEAFARERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
DECLARATION OF POLICY 
Section 1. Short Title.– This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of Filipino 
Seafarers”. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
a) To recognize the rights, contributions, and unique role of seafarers as essential
maritime professionals, acknowledge their vulnerabilities, and afford them full
protection before, during, and after their employment;
b) To recognize that seafarers are a special category of key workers providing essential
services, and given the global nature of the shipping industry and the different
jurisdictions that seafarers may be brought into contact with, they are in need of
special protection;
c) To encourage the participation of women in the seafaring profession and contribute
meaningfully to the achievement of national development goals as productive
members of the community;
d) To maintain and progressively develop a pool of competent and world-class
seafarers through a system of education, training, certification, and licensing;
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e) To establish and enhance mechanisms of administrative, adjudicative, social, and 
welfare services for seafarers and their families; 
f) To enact laws that adopt, and implement the standards set by the international 
conventions and agreements regarding the working and living conditions and 
occupational safety and health, among others, of seafarers, particularly the Maritime 
Labor Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006); and 
g) To recognize shipowners, maritime higher education institutions, and licensed 
manning agencies as vital partners in promoting the rights, welfare, skills and 
competencies of seafarers. 
 
Toward these ends, the State shall endeavor to improve the seafarers’ working 
conditions, terms and conditions of employment, and career prospects, and provide them 
opportunities to harness their potentials to the fullest. The State shall also uplift the socio-
economic well-being of the seafarers’ families.  
 
CHAPTER II 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
 
Sec. 3 Coverage. – This Act shall cover:  
a) All Filipino seafarers who are to be engaged, engaged, employed, or working in any 
capacity, on board Philippine or foreign-registered ships, except those to be 
engaged, engaged, employed, or working in the following categories of ships: 
1) Warships,  naval auxiliaries, and Coast Guard vessels; 
2) Government ships not engaged in commercial operations; 
3) Ships of traditional built, as may be defined under existing rules and regulations; 
and 
4) Fishing vessels, as may be defined by appropriate rules and regulations to be 
issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in consultation 
with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and other relevant 
stakeholders.  
 
For the purpose of this Act, a seafarer is deemed “to be engaged” as such if the seafarer 
has been contracted for overseas employment but has yet to leave the Philippines.  
b) All Filipino seafarers on board Philippine registered domestic ships engaged in 
trade and commerce between Philippine ports and within Philippine territorial or 
internal waters shall be covered primarily by equivalent provisions of the Labor 


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Code of the Philippines, as amended and related social and welfare benefits laws. 
For this purpose, the DOLE shall issue the appropriate rules and regulations to 
govern the employment of domestic seafarers.  
 
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall have the 
following meaning:  
a) Abandonment – refers to a situation where, in violation of the terms of the 
employment contract, the shipowner:  
i)    Fails to cover the cost of the seafarer’s repatriation; 
ii) 
Has left the seafarer without the necessary maintenance and support; or 
iii)  Has otherwise unilaterally severed their ties with the seafarer, including failure 
to pay contractual wages for a period of at least two (2) months; 
b) Cadet – refers to a student of a maritime educational institution who is required to 
undergo training on board registered international or domestic ships to fulfil a 
maritime degree or technical course; 
c) Domestic shipping – refers to the transport of passenger or cargo, or both, by ships 
duly registered and licensed under Philippine law to engage in trade and commerce 
between Philippine ports and within Philippine territorial or internal waters, for hire 
or compensation, with general or limited clientele, whether permanent, occasional 
or incidental, with or without fixed routes, and done for contractual or commercial 
purposes; 
d) International Maritime Convention or International Convention – refers to any 
written treaty or agreement, or any protocol or amendment thereto, affecting the 
maritime industry, which has come into force and effect, including the MLC 2006; 
e) International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and 
Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) – refers to the international convention that 
establishes the minimum standards relating to training, certification, and 
watchkeeping for seafarers, which the Philippines acceded to on May 22, 1984; 
f) Manning Agency – refers to a natural or juridical person duly licensed by the 
Secretary of the Department to engage in the recruitment and placement of 
seafarers;  
g) Maritime Accident – refers to any unforeseen occurrence or physical event 
connected to the navigation, operations, maneuvering, or handling of ships, or the 


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machinery, equipment, material, or cargo on board such ships which may result in 
the detention of seafarers;  
h) Maritime Industry Stakeholders – refer to all private sector stakeholders engaged in
the business of owning, managing, chartering or operating domestic and
international ship/s of Philippine or foreign registry, manning of ships, management
of ports, stevedoring and arrastre services, ship brokering and chartering,
shipbuilding and ship repair, providing maritime services, such as ship supplies and
provisions, maritime education and training, shipping agency, and other similar
activities.
This term shall also include bona fide maritime labor organizations, professional
associations of seafarers, associations promoting seafarers’ welfare, and women’s
maritime organizations;
i)
Maritime Labor Certificate – refers to the document that certifies that the working
and living conditions of the seafarers on the ship have been inspected and are
compliant with the requirements of the MLC, 2006 and of applicable Philippine
laws and regulations;
j)
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) – refers to the consolidated
Maritime Labour Convention approved by the International Labour Organization
(ILO) in 2006 and ratified by the Philippines on August 20, 2012;
k) Master refers to a person having command of a ship and acts the shipowners’
representative;
l)
Ocean-Going Ship – refers to a ship other than those which navigate exclusively in
inland water or in water within or closely adjacent to sheltered water, or areas where
port regulations apply;
m) Officer – refers to a member of the crew other than the master who has been
designated as such by national law or regulation, or, in the absence of such
designation, by collective agreement or custom;
n) One-Stop-Shop Center for OFWs (OSSCO) – refers to the one-stop centers in
various parts of the country established to ensure prompt, efficient, vital and
relevant services to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and other overseas
Filipinos and their families, including seafarers. The OSSCOs shall be the venue
for the acquisition of relevant clearances and permits, validation of overseas job
offers, availment of reintegration services and all pertinent seminars and workshops
for all stakeholders, among others. In all cases and as far as practicable, the OSSCOs


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shall be co-located with DMW regional offices. Agencies at these centers shall, as 
far as practicable, include the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Technical Education and 
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission 
(PRC), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Department of Health (DOH), 
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Social Security System 
(SSS), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bureau of Immigration (BI), National 
Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), 
Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and such other 
government agencies as may be appropriate; 
o) Point of Hire refers to the place indicated in the contract of employment, and which 
shall be the basis in determining the commencement of the contract;  
p) Recognized Organizations – refer to organizations recognized by the DOLE to carry 
out inspections or issue the Maritime Labor Certificate in accordance with the scope 
of activities covered by their authorizations; 
q) Repatriation – refers to the process of returning a seafarer to the point of destination, 
which shall be the point of hire or the seafarer’s place of domicile, at the option of 
the seafarer, or in case of incapacity or death, at the option of his/her next-of-kin; 
r) Standard Employment Contract (SEC) or Employment Contract – refers to a 
government-prescribed contract containing the minimum terms and conditions of 
employment;  
s) Seafarer – refers to any Filipino who is to be employed, is employed, or is engaged 
to work in any capacity on board a ship covered under this Act; 
t) Ship or Vessel – refers to any kind, class or type of craft or artificial contrivance 
capable of floating in water, whether publicly or privately owned, ordinarily 
engaged in commercial activities;  
u) Shipowner or Principal – refers to the owner of the ship employing Filipino 
seafarers to work on board domestic ships and ships engaged in international trade, 
or any other organization or person, such as the manager, agent or bareboat 
charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for operation and management of the 
ship from the shipowner, and who, in assuming such responsibilities, has agreed to 
take over all the attendant duties and responsibilities of a shipowner under this Act, 


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regardless of whether any other organization or persons fulfill certain duties or 
responsibilities on behalf of the shipowner. 
 
CHAPTER III 
SEAFARER’S RIGHTS 
 
 
Sec. 5. Right to Just Terms and Conditions of Work. – Seafarers shall have the right to: 
a) A safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards; 
b) Decent working and living conditions on board a ship; 
c) Medical care and confirmatory tests, welfare measures and other forms of health 
and social protection;  
d) Fair terms and conditions of employment, including salary commensurate to their 
rank, hours of work, paid sick leave or sickness benefits, the maximum number of 
workers hours, and minimum hours of rest periods, consistent with Philippine laws 
or international maritime conventions; and  
e) Compensation and benefits in the event of death or long-term disability for 
occupational injuries, illnesses and hazards.  
 
Sec. 6. Right to Self-Organization, to Engage in Collective Bargaining and to 
Participate in Democratic Exercises. – Seafarers shall enjoy their right to self-organization, to 
collective bargain, to form or join international organization of seafarers or network with 
seafarers of different nationalities, and to participate in the deliberation of issues and in the 
formulation of policies that affect them, including the guarantee of representation in governing 
boards or appointment in government instrumentalities. 
 
 
Sec. 7. Right to Educational Advancement and Training at Reasonable and Affordable 
Costs. – Seafarers shall have access to educational advancement and training at reasonable and 
affordable costs. 
 
Toward this end, relevant government agencies shall: 
a) Regulate the operation of all educational and training institutions offering courses 
related to seafaring; 
b) Pursue grant programs, such scholarships, subsidies, loan assistance and other 
measures that will harness the skills of seafarers toward greater competitiveness 
given the new and evolving demands in the industry;  


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c) Promote quality maritime education and training that respond to the needs of the 
industry and in accordance with minimum international maritime standards of 
competency; and  
d) Afford enhanced access to educational advancement and training of women in the 
seafaring industry.  
 
CHED and MARINA shall work together to mainstream gender and development in 
the curricula of maritime institutions and training centers.  
 
Sec. 8. Right to Information. – Shipowners, manning agencies, and other organizations 
responsible for the recruitment and placement of seafarers shall provide seafarers relevant 
information, including the terms and conditions of employment, company policies affecting 
seafarers, conditions and realities attending to their profession, and necessary laws and 
regulations of countries covered by their sojourn. In addition, the seafarers shall, at all times, 
be furnished a copy of the duly executed Standard Employment Contract, as well as the results 
of the medical examination conducted on him/her. The right shall also include the right of 
seafarers’ organizations to relevant information affecting the terms and condition of 
employment of their members.  
All ships covered by this Act shall have a copy of the MLC, 2006, the grievance 
procedures observed on-board, duly executed Standard Employment Contract of seafarers, and 
when there is a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), a copy of such agreement, which shall 
be readily available to the seafarers.  
 
Sec. 9. Right to Information of a Seafarer’s Family or Next-of-Kin. – In critical 
incidents, such as accidents or deaths on board or offshore, piracy, abandonment of vessel, and 
other similar cases, the seafarer’s family or next-of-kin shall be immediately informed of the 
incident, including investigation reports, action/s taken, and plans by the shipowner and the 
manning agency concerned.  
 
Sec. 10. Right to Safe Passage and Safe Travel. – Seafarers shall be accorded the rights 
to safe passage and safe travel, including the right to embark and disembark in third countries 
when in transit, and the right to be repatriated and return home.  
 
Sec. 11. Right to Consultation. – Seafarers and maritime stakeholders shall be 
adequately consulted before adopting any maritime policy, executive issuance, rules or 


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regulations, or in the enactment of any maritime law that may directly affect the seafarers 
and/or their families and beneficiaries.  
 
Sec. 12. Right Against Discrimination. – Seafarers shall have the right to be protected 
from discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, or political opinion, as well as on the 
basis of disablement, taking into consideration the inherent requirements of the particular job 
or undertaking. Career opportunities shall be promoted, and appropriate working and living 
conditions shall be guaranteed equally among male and female seafarers. 
 
Sec. 13. Right to be Protected Against All Forms of Harassment and Bullying. – 
Seafarers shall be protected against all forms of harassment and bullying while on board their 
ships. The shipowner shall put policies in place for the protection of all crew members. 
Maritime stakeholders and seafarers shall ensure that harassment and bullying do not take 
place.  
Shipowners and manning agencies shall also establish helplines and grievance 
mechanisms for all victims of harassment and bullying.  
 
Sec. 14. Right to Free Legal Representation. – Seafarers who are victims of violations 
of the provisions of this Act or whose contracts have been breached, who cannot afford the 
services of a competent and independent counsel, shall have the right to free legal assistance 
and protection at government’s expense, and to the fair and speedy disposition of the case, 
including the expeditious settlement of any money claims, subject to existing rules and 
regulations. 
 
Sec. 15. Right to Access to Communication. – Seafarers, especially during their free 
time or when they are not on duty, shall have reasonable access to ship-to-shore telephone 
communications, and email and internet facilities, where available. 
 
Sec. 16. Right to Record of Employment or Certificate of Employment. – At the 
expiration of the employment contract of the seafarer, the seafarer shall be given a record of 
his/her employment on board the ship or a certificate of employment specifying the length of 
service, the position the seafarer occupied, an account of his/her final wages, and such other 
relevant information.  
 


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Sec. 17. Right to Fair Treatment in the Event of a Maritime Accident. – In the event of 
a maritime accident, seafarers shall be treated fairly. They shall be entitled to all the rights 
under the ILO/International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2006 Guidelines on Fair Treatment 
of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident and its amendments.  
 
CHAPTER IV 
WOMEN IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY 
 
 
Sec. 18. Discrimination Against Women Seafarers. – In addition to the right against 
discrimination on the basis of sex, women seafarers shall be protected from the following 
discriminatory acts: 
a) Payment of a lesser compensation, including wage, salary or other form of 
remuneration and fringe benefits, to a male seafarer as against  female seafarer, for 
work of equal value; and  
b) Favoring a male seafarer over a female seafarer with respect to promotion, training 
opportunities, study and scholarship grants, solely on account of their sexes.  
 
 
Sec. 19. Gender and Development. – Shipowners and manning agencies shall formulate 
gender and development policies. In addition, all maritime training institutions shall ensure that 
appropriate gender-sensitive policies are in place to promote the rights of women to adequate 
training and opportunities, free from discrimination, harassment and bullying.  
 
CHAPTER V 
SEAFARER’S DUTIES 
 
 
Sec. 20. Duties of a Seafarer. – Seafarers shall have the following duties: 
a) To comply with and observe the terms and conditions of the Standard Employment 
Contract; 
b) To abide by lawful and reasonable company personnel policies; 
c) To follow and observe the chain and command of the vessel, and to comply with 
the relevant and reasonable policies and procedures on board the ship or while 
ashore, taking into consideration his/her religious freedom; 
d) To be diligent in the performance of duties relating to the ship, its stores, equipment 
and cargo, whether on board, in transit or ashore; 


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e) To be, at all times, orderly and respectful to the shipmates, passengers, shippers, 
stevedores, port authorities, and other persons who have official business with the 
ship; and 
f) To take personal responsibility for his/her health while on board by maintaining a 
healthy lifestyle and complying with medically prescribed instructions.  
 
CHAPTER VI 
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR SEAFARERS 
 
 
Sec. 21. Minimum Age. – No person below eighteen (18) years old, other than a cadet, 
shall be employed, engaged, or otherwise allowed to work on board Philippine-registered ships 
operating domestically or internationally, as well as on board foreign-registered ships. 
 
 
Sec. 22. Medical Certificates. – No seafarer shall be employed, engaged, or otherwise 
allowed to work on board a domestic or ocean-going ship unless a medical certificate has been 
issued declaring the seafarer to be fit to work. 
 
For this purpose, the seafarer shall hold a valid medical certificate issued by a medical 
facility duly accredited by the Department of Health (DOH), in accordance with its rules and 
regulations. 
 
The medical certificate shall certify that the person is expected to meet the minimum 
requirements to perform the duty specific to the person’s post safely and effectively during the 
validity of the certificate. 
 
During the conduct of a medical examination, the seafarer shall have the responsibility 
of answering truthfully all questions relating to his/her medical condition and/or medical 
history, including previously known illness, injury, or medical treatment, and to make a 
complete inventory of medication prescribed to him/her by physicians; Provided, That the 
processing of the medical information of the seafarer shall at all times comply with the 
provisions of Republic Act No. 10173 or the “Data Privacy Act of 2012.” 
 
For purposes of this section, a medical certificate issued in accordance with the 
requirements of STCW shall be accepted. 
 
 
Sec. 23. Training and Qualifications. – Only seafarers certified by appropriate 
government agencies in compliance with the STCW and other applicable international 
standards, shall work, be employed or be engaged on board a ship. 


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Sec. 24. Recruitment and Placement. – Only duly licensed manning agencies shall be 
allowed to operate and engage in the recruitment and placement of seafarers, in accordance 
with rules and regulations as may be issued by the Secretary of Labor and Employment, or the 
Secretary-in-charge of migration-related matters, including the deployment of seafarers.  
 
In all cases, no amount or fee, including placement fees, shall be charged to the seafarer 
in relation to his/her recruitment and placement. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 
 
 
Sec. 25. Standard Employment Contract for Seafarers. – There shall be a Standard 
Employment Contract in writing between the shipowner and the seafarer, which shall include, 
but not be limited to, the following information and terms: 
a) Seafarer’s full name, date of birth, age, birthplace, permanent and/or residential 
address; 
b) Seafarer’s Record Book Number, Seafarers Identity Document Number, and 
Seafarer’s Registration Number; 
c) Shipowner’s name and address; 
d) Place where and date when the seafarer’s employment agreement is entered into; 
e) Duration of the contract; 
f) Point of hire; 
g) Capacity in which the seafarer is to be employed; 
h) Amount of the seafarer’s salary, and the formula used for calculating the same; 
i) Maximum hours of work and minimum hours of rest; 
j) Wages and wage-related benefits, which include, but not limited to, overtime pay, 
holiday pay, vacation leave pay, premium pay, paid leaves, and 13th month pay, if 
applicable; 
k) Compensation and benefits for occupational injury, illness, or death; 
l) Social security and welfare benefits, including the compulsory insurance coverage 
as provided under Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, 
otherwise known as The Migrant Workers Act; 
m) Stipulations on repatriation or similar undertakings; 
n) Separation pay and retirement pay, if applicable; 


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o) Reference to the CBA, if applicable; and 
p) Other benefits in accordance with law, company policy or CBA. 
The employment contract shall be in a working language or in the English language, 
executed in four (4) original copies before the commencement of the employment. The 
shipowner and the seafarer shall each have a signed original of the agreement. In addition, a 
signed original shall be made available on board the ship. 
 
For ocean-going Philippine-registered ships or foreign-registered ships, the DMW shall 
issue a Standard Employment Contract containing the minimum standards to be observed in 
the employment of seafarers. The Standard Employment Contract shall be reviewed and 
updated regularly and must, at all times, be consistent with the MLC, 2006, and other existing 
treaties and conventions governing seafarers, which the Philippines has ratified or will ratify 
in the future.  
 
 
Sec. 26. Maximum Hours of Work and Minimum Hours of Rest. – The normal hours of 
work of a seafarer shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day with one (1) rest day per week. If the 
seafarer is required to work beyond eight (8) hours, the maximum hours of work shall not 
exceed fourteen (14) hours in any twenty-four (24)-hour period, and seventy-two (72) hours in 
any seven (7)-day period. 
 
The minimum hours of rest for every seafarer shall not be less than ten (10) hours in a 
twenty-four (24)-hour period. The hours of rest may be divided into two (2) periods, one of 
which shall be at least six (6) hours in length, and the interval between the two periods of rest 
shall not exceed fourteen (14) hours.  
 
In exceptional cases, seafarers in watchkeeping duties may be required to work beyond 
fourteen (14) hours: Provided, that the rest period is not less than seventy (70) hours in any 
seven (7)-day period; Provided, further, that such watchkeeping duties shall not be allowed for 
more than (2) consecutive weeks; Provided, finally, that the intervals between the two (2) 
periods shall not be less than twice the duration of the exception.  
 
Seafarers shall be granted reasonable periods of shore leaves while the vessel is docked 
for the benefit of their health and well-being, subject to proportionate and specifically adopted 
rules, regulations, and measures of the Port State.  
 
 
Sec. 27. Paid Annual Leave. – Unless a higher annual leave is already provided in the 
employment contract, or under a CBA, or by the shipowner as company practice or policy, the 
seafarers shall be paid an annual leave, to be calculated on the basis of a minimum of 4.5 


13 
 
calendar days per month of employment, without prejudice to any future increases as may be 
prescribed by laws, rules, or regulations: Provided, that the following shall not be counted as 
part of the annual paid leave:  
a) Public and customary holidays of the Philippines, whether or not they fall during 
the paid annual leave; 
b) Periods of incapacity for work i) resulting from illness or injury; ii) due to maternity 
or paternity leave in accordance with law;  
c) Temporary shore leave granted to a seafarer while employed; or  
d) Compensatory leave of any kind.  
 
 
Sec. 28. Wages. – Without prejudice to higher rates provided under the Standard 
Employment Contract, or under a CBA, or by the shipowner as company practice or policy, 
the minimum wage applicable to seafarers on board ocean-going ships of Philippine or foreign 
registry shall be as provided in the Standard Employment Contract, which in no case be lower 
than the prevailing industry standard on ocean-going seafaring wage rates for officers and other 
members of the ship’s crew, and regularly paid in full at least once a month.  
 
 
Sec. 29. Remittance of Wages. – Shipowners shall provide the appropriate facilities and 
assistance to the seafarer to enable the seafarer to remit his/her wages to his/her designated 
allottee/s in the Philippines through any authorized Philippine bank or financial intermediary; 
Provided, that such allotment shall not be less than eighty percent (80%) of the seafarer’s 
monthly basic salary.  
 
 
Sec. 30 Limitations on Wage Deductions. – A deduction from the seafarer’s wages shall 
not be made without his/her written consent unless the deduction is provided for in the contract 
of employment and/or is authorized by law.  
 
 
Sec. 31. Personal Effects. – A seafarer may bring a reasonable number of articles for 
personal use on board the ship; Provided, that this shall not inconvenience the ship or cargo or 
pose any risk on board the ship. If the seafarers personal effects are lost or damaged as a result 
of shipwreck, loss or stranding, abandonment of the vessel, or as a result of fire, flooding, 
collision, or piracy, the shipowner shall reimburse him/her for said loss or damage, subject to 
limits prescribed by existing rules and regulations, unless a higher limit is provided under the 
existing CBA, but in no case lower than international standards. 


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Sec. 32. Social Welfare Benefits. – Without prejudice to established policy, CBA or 
other applicable social agreement, all seafarers shall be members of, and receive the benefits 
conferred by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Social Security System 
(SSS), Employees’ Compensation and State Insurance Fund, PhilHealth, HDMF or Pag-IBIG 
Fund, and other applicable social protection laws, rules and regulations, as may now or 
hereafter be created in favor of Filipino workers and/or OFWs.  
 
 
Sec. 33. Sick Leave and Sickness Benefits During Public Health Emergencies. – A 
seafarer who has contracted an illness or disease during public health emergencies, such as 
epidemics or pandemics, while in transit, or is under quarantine, shall be entitled to paid sick 
leave and sickness benefits until the seafarer joins the vessel.  
 
 
Sec. 34. Anti-Harassment and Bullying Policies On Board Ships. – Shipowners shall 
ensure protection to seafarers with policies and accessible procedures to address harassment 
and bullying on board ships.  
 
CHAPTER VIII 
ACCOMMODATION, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, 
FOOD AND CATERING IN SHIPS 
 
 
Sec. 35. Application. – The requirements of this Chapter covering ships of Philippine 
registry shall be applicable to the following: 
a) All ocean-going ships and domestic ships constructed on or after the date when the 
MLC, 2006 comes into force; 
b) All second-hand ships, whether ocean-going or domestic, acquired or leased, and 
entered in the Philippine registry after the entry date into force of the said 
Convention, insofar as they can be reasonably refitted, unless provided exemption 
by the relevant Philippine government agency; and 
c) All ships constructed prior to the entry into force of the MLC, 2006 which have 
undergone major or substantial structural alterations after the entry into force of the 
Convention, unless provided exemption by the relevant Philippine government 
agency. 
 


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Sec. 36. Accommodation Facilities. – Unless otherwise exempted herein or by 
appropriate regulations, all ships shall have safe, decent and adequate accommodations for 
seafarers taking into account the need to protect the health and safety of seafarers working or 
living on board the ship. There shall be a basic shipboard facility for women, such as separate 
sleeping rooms.  
 
 
Sec. 37. Requirements for Sanitation. – All ships shall have sanitation facilities that 
meet the minimum standards for health and hygiene, which shall be accessible to seafarers on 
board.  The sanitation facilities shall be located at convenient places, allowing for easy access 
to work stations. Separate sanitation facilities shall also be provided for male and female crew 
members of the ship. 
 
 
Sec. 38. Recreation Facilities. – Unless otherwise exempted herein or by appropriate 
regulations, all ships shall have recreation facilities, amenities, and services that are appropriate 
and accessible to seafarers; Provided, that domestic ships shall be exempted from this 
requirement considering that their trading patterns and length of voyages allow their crew to 
go home or to make use of comparable facilities onshore.  
 
 
Sec. 39. Food and Catering. – All ships shall ensure protection and promotion of the 
health of the seafarer.  Toward this end, shipowners shall ensure that ships carry on-board and 
serve free food and drinking water of appropriate quality, quantity and nutritional value that 
adequately cover the requirements of the ship and take into consideration the differing cultural 
and religious backgrounds of the seafarers on board the ship. The foods and drinks and the 
preparation thereof shall be in accordance with the standards of the Sanitation Code of the 
Philippines and pertinent laws, rules and regulations, and/or with international standards. In all 
cases, the ship’s cooks shall be trained and qualified.  
 
 
CHAPTER IX 
MEDICAL CARE AND MARITIME OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY 
AND HEALTH STANDARDS 
 
Sec. 40. Medical Care on Board Ships and Ashore. – The shipowner shall provide 
adequate medical facility, equipment, paraphernalia and medical supplies, including medicines 


16 
 
on board, and shall ensure access to shore facilities for the health of seafarers, as well as the 
corresponding medical or trained personnel who shall provide first aid and medical care. 
The medicine chest and its contents, the medical equipment, and the medical guide on 
board shall be maintained and inspected regularly to ensure that labelling, expiry dates, and 
conditions of storage of all medicines and the directions for their use are checked, and all 
equipment are functioning properly.  
The shipowner shall ensure that seafarers have access to medical treatment for any 
illness or injury, hospitalization and dental treatment until the sick or injured seafarer has 
recovered or until the sickness or incapacity has been declared of a permanent character.  
 
A seafarer shall have the right to consult a qualified physician or dentist without delay 
in ports of call, where practicable. 
 
The health protection and medical care under this Section shall be provided at no cost 
to the seafarer, in accordance with rules and regulations issued for this purpose.  
 
 
Sec. 41. Protection of Seafarers from Epidemics, Pandemics, or Other Public Health 
Emergencies. – Seafarers on ships should be covered by adequate measures for protection from 
health-related outbreaks, such as epidemics and pandemics, including the provision of personal 
protective supplies and equipment, as appropriate. 
 
Seafarers shall have access to prompt and adequate medical care while on board, 
including medical advice and confidential helplines on physical and mental health, which shall 
be free of charge.  
 
Shipowners shall institute preventive measures in accordance with the health 
regulations of the Flag State and the appropriate guidelines issued by the World Health 
Organization (WHO), including the necessary disinfection, decontamination, de-ratting, or 
other measures necessary to prevent the spread of infection or contamination. Affected 
seafarers shall also be properly isolated and treated pursuant to established guidelines of the 
Flag State, the WHO, and applicable rules and regulations.  
 
In ports of call, seafarers in need of medical care shall have access to medical facilities 
onshore.  
 
The transit of seafarers who are medically fit to work shall be facilitated and exempted 
from travel-related, health-related, or movement restrictions until arrival at the point of 
destination.  
 


17 
 
 
Sec. 42. Financial Security System to Assist Seafarers in Case of Occupational Injury 
and Other Causes. – In accordance with the MLC, 2006, on Financial Security for vessels, the 
shipowner shall provide an expeditious and effective financial security system to assist 
seafarers in the event of their abandonment and to assure compensation for contractual claims 
in the event of sickness, injury, or death occurring while they are serving under a seafarer’s 
employment contract, or arising from their employment under such agreement.  
 
CHAPTER X 
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT 
 
Sec. 43. Termination of Employment. – 
a) The employment of Filipino seafarers on board Philippine-registered ships 
operating internationally, as well as those on board foreign-registered ships, shall 
cease when the seafarers complete their period of contractual service aboard the 
ship, sign off from the ship, and arrive at the destination as specified under this 
paragraph (b) of this Section; 
b) The employment is also terminated effective upon arrival at the point of destination, 
which shall either be at the point of hire or the seafarer’s place of domicile, at the 
option of the seafarer, or in case of the seafarer’s incapacity or death, at the option 
of his/her next-of-kin, for any of the following reasons: 
1) When the seafarer signs off and is disembarked for medical reasons in the event 
that the seafarer is declared: i) fit for repatriation; or ii) when after an illness, 
the seafarer is declared fit to work, but the employer is unable to find 
employment for the seafarer on board the ship originally boarded or on another 
ship of the shipowner; 
2) When the seafarer signs off due to the sale of the ship, lay-up of ship, 
discontinuance of voyage or change of ship principal, shipwreck, grounding, or 
unseaworthiness; 
3) When the seafarer voluntarily resigns in writing and signs off prior to the 
expiration of contract within a reasonable period as may be prescribed in the 
implementing rules and regulations of this Act; or 
4) When the seafarer is discharged for just causes in accordance with the 
provisions of the Standard Employment Contract.  
 


18 
 
 
Sec. 44. Extension of Employment. – In the event of the extension of the term of a 
seafarer’s employment contract, the seafarer shall be furnished a copy of the new or 
supplemental contract covering the extension of his employment with adequate time to review 
and obtain expert advice regarding the terms and conditions of his/her extended employment, 
which shall in no case be lower than the terms of his/her original employment. In all cases, the 
shipowner, or a duly authorized representative or the manning agency shall ensure that the 
seafarer has considered the effect of such an extension to any accumulated entitlement and 
repatriation benefits, among others.  
 
Manning agencies and shipowners shall submit  
periodic reports to the DMW on 
the welfare and well-being of seafarers subjected to such contract extensions.  
 
CHAPTER XI 
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES 
 
 
Sec. 45. On Board and Onshore Grievance Machinery. – All ships of Philippine 
registry shall establish a grievance machinery and fair, effective and expeditious on board and 
onshore procedures, at no cost to the seafarer, for the resolution of grievances or complaints.   
 
Any grievance or complaint shall first be referred to the appropriate grievance 
mechanism provided under this Section.  
In cases where a seafarer is a member of a 
legitimate trade union organization and covered by a CBA, he/she shall be assisted by a union-
designated representative in the proceedings. Any agreements reached by the parties at the 
grievance proceedings shall be final and binding.  
 
 
Sec. 46. Mandatory Conciliation-Mediation. – In the absence of an agreement or 
settlement at the grievances machinery level, the following rules shall apply:  
a) If there is a CBA, the matter shall be submitted for voluntary arbitration in 
accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations;  
b) If there is no CBA, the parties shall have the option to submit the case to compulsory 
arbitration or voluntary arbitration, or conciliation-mediation services provided 
under Republic Act No. 10396, otherwise known as “An Act Strengthening 
Conciliation-Mediation as a Voluntary Mode of Dispute Settlement for All Labor 
Cases, Amending for this Purpose Article 228 of Presidential Decree No. 442, as 
amended, Otherwise Known as the ‘Labor Code of the Philippines’” and its 
implementing rules and regulations.  


19 
 
 
 
Sec. 47. Maritime Industry Labor Arbitration. – There shall be a pool of trained 
maritime industry conciliators-mediators and experts with the appropriate competence, 
integrity, and knowledge of the Philippine and global maritime industry practices and 
standards, MLC, 2006, and related Philippine-ratified conventions and treaties, who shall 
handle the mediation or conciliation or arbitration of all issues relating to the employment of 
seafarers.  
 
CHAPTER XII 
REPATRIATION 
 
 
Sec. 48. Seafarers’ Repatriation. – In all cases of repatriation, the affected seafarer shall 
be repatriation to the point of hire or the place of domicile of the seafarer, at his/her option, or 
in case of incapacity or death, at the option of his/her next-of-kin, and all costs related to the 
repatriation and/or transport of the personal effects and remains of seafarers, including the 
provision on financial security in case of abandonment of seafarers, shall be borne by or 
charged to the shipowner or the manning agency concerned to expedite the repatriation without 
prior determination of the cause of repatriation or termination of the seafarer’s employment.  
 
 
Sec. 49. Repatriation Expenses; Advance and Recovery. – The repatriation expenses 
that shall be borne by or charged to the shipowner or the manning agency concerned shall 
include:  
a) Basic pay and allowances from the moment the seafarers leave the ship until they 
reach the repatriation destination; 
b) Accommodation and food during the journey to the repatriation destination; 
c) Transportation charges, the normal mode of transport should be by air;  
d) Deployment cost of the principal; and  
e) Immigration fees, fines, and penalties.  
 
However, in cases where the termination of employment is for just cause or upon the 
request of the seafarer, the cost of repatriation shall be for the account of the seafarer in 
accordance with the employment agreement.  
 
The responsibility to provide for the repatriation costs shall be without prejudice to the 
right to civil, criminal or other claims in accordance with law or otherwise, particularly in cases 
of maritime accident or death other than natural causes.  


20 
 
 
 
Sec. 50. Quarantine and Medical Expenses in Repatriation Due to Infection, Epidemics 
or Pandemic. – Before or during the process of repatriation, the expenses of medical care and 
board and lodging for periods spent by seafarers in self-isolation or quarantine, whether or not 
the seafarers have symptoms, have been exposed or are quarantined as a safety precaution for 
the community, shall be covered by the shipowner or manning agency until the seafarers have 
been duly repatriated to the repatriation destination. Thereafter, medical care and quarantine 
expenses after repatriation to the destination shall be borne by the Philippine government, 
following the whole-of-government approach in the management of epidemics and pandemics.  
 
 
Sec. 51. Waiver of Entitlement to Repatriation. – Entitlement to repatriation may be 
waived by a seafarer; Provided, That the waiver shall be written, made freely and voluntarily, 
with full knowledge of its consequences; Provided, however, that no such waiver shall be 
allowed or presumed when a seafarer is abandoned, held captive on or off the ship as a result 
of acts of piracy or armed robbery against the ship, or are incapable of travelling due to illness, 
injury or incapacity, or other causes that affect the seafarer’s safety and security.  
 
CHAPTER XIII 
REINTEGRATION OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO SEAFARERS 
 
 
Sec. 52. Reintegration. – There shall be developed and implemented a full-cycle and 
comprehensive national reintegration program for seafarers, which shall be embedded in all 
stages of migration for work beginning from pre-deployment, on-site during employment and 
upon return, whether voluntary or involuntary. The reintegration program shall cover the 
different dimensions of support needed by the seafarer, such as economic, social, psychosocial, 
and cultural, including skills certification and recognition of equivalency for effective 
employment services, and shall ensure contribution to national development through 
investments and transfer of technology from skilled or professional seafarers.  
 
CHAPTER XIV 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO DOMESTIC SEAFARERS 
 
 
Sec. 53. Wages, Holiday Pay, Service Incentive Leave, and Other Statutory Benefits. – 
The minimum wage rate of seafarers on board ships engaged in domestic shipping shall be 


21 
 
determined by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB), taking into 
account the peculiarities of the employment arrangement of seafarers and the criteria for wage-
fixing pursuant to Republic Act No. 6727, otherwise known as the “Wage Rationalization Act;” 
Provided, that wages for actual work hours and days shall not be lower than the applicable 
minimum wage rates in the place where the ship is registered. Wages of domestic seafarers 
shall be paid in full and regularly at least twice a week in a month, or at intervals not greater 
than sixteen (16) days as provided in the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended.  
 
In addition, the provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, on 
“Prohibitions Regarding Wages,” “Wage Studies, Wage Agreements, and Wage 
Determination,” “Administration and Enforcement,” “Holidays,” “Service Incentive Leaves 
and Service Charges” shall continue to apply, unless higher annual leave is already provided 
under the CBA or by the shipowner as company practice or policy or seafarers’ employment 
agreement. In addition, domestic seafarers shall also be entitled to i) 13th month pay pursuant 
to Presidential Decree No. 851, as amended, ii) paid maternity leave under Republic Act No. 
11210, otherwise known as the “105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law,” iii) paid paternity 
leave under Republic Act No. 8187, otherwise known as the “Paternity Leave Act of 1996,” 
iv) paid parental leave for solo parents under Republic Act No. 8972, otherwise known as the 
“Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000,” v) paid leave for victims of violence against women and 
their children under Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti-Violence Against 
Women and their Children Act of 2004,” vi) paid special leave due to surgery for any 
gynaecological disorder, under Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta 
of Women,” and retirement pay, pursuant to Republic Act No. 7641.  
 
Domestic seafarers shall also be entitled to SSS, PhilHealth, and Employees’ 
Compensation Commission (ECC) benefits, HDMF or Pag-IBIG Fund, and other applicable 
social protection in accordance with law, regardless of the benefits already provided under a 
contract, CBA, or company practice or policy.  
 
Sec. 54. Employment Contract. – There shall be an agreement in writing between the 
shipowner and the seafarer, which shall include the following terms:  
a) Seafarer’s full name, date of birth, age, birthplace, permanent and/or residential 
address; 
b) Seafarer’s Record Book Number, Seafarers Identity Document Number; 
c) Shipowner’s name and address; 
d) Place where and date when the seafarer’s employment agreement is entered into;  
e) Duration of the contract; 


22 
 
f) Point of hire; 
g) Capacity in which the seafarer is to be employed; 
h) Amount of the seafarer’s salary, and the formula used for calculating the same; 
i) Maximum hours of work and minimum hours of rest; 
j) Wages and wage-related benefits, which shall include, but is not limited to, 
overtime pay, holiday pay, vacation leave pay, premium pay, paid leaves, and 13th 
month pay, if applicable; 
k) Compensation and benefits for occupational injury, illness of death; 
l) Social security and welfare benefits, including the compulsory insurance coverage 
as provided under Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, 
otherwise known as “The Migrant Workers Act;” 
m) Stipulations in case of rescues or other similar undertakings; 
n) Separation pay and retirement pay, if applicable;  
o) Reference to the CBA, if applicable; and  
p) Other benefits in accordance with the law, company policy, or CBA.  
 
The foregoing employment agreement shall be executed by and between the shipowner 
and the seafarer before the commencement of employment, in a language or dialect 
understandable to both parties. The shipowner shall provide the domestic seafarer the signed 
original copy of the agreement and a certified true copy shall be made available on board the 
ship.  
 
The DOLE shall keep a copy of the employment contract between the shipowner and 
the domestic seafarer.  
 
 
Sec. 55. Maximum Hours of Work and Minimum Hours of Rest. – The provision of 
Section 26 shall also apply to domestic seafarers. In addition, waiting time shall not be 
considered as compensable working time if the seafarer is completely relieved from his/her 
duty and can use the time effectively for his/her own purpose.  
 
 
Sec. 56. Termination of Employment of Domestic Seafarers. – The termination of 
employment of a seafarer on board domestic ships shall be governed by the provisions of the 
Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations issued by 
DOLE. In case the termination of employment is initiated by the shipowner, the substantial and 
procedural aspects of due process shall be observed.  
 


23 
 
 
Sec. 57. Rescue of Seafarers On-Board Domestic Ships. – The provisions under this 
Act on repatriation as may be applicable, shall also apply to seafarers working on domestic 
ships. Seafarers on board domestic ships shall be entitled to emergency rescues in cases of war, 
epidemics, abandonment of ships by shipowners, disasters or calamities, whether natural or 
man-made, and other similar events. The Philippine Coast Guard and MARINA shall undertake 
and assist in the rescue of seafarers on board domestic ships.  
 
 
Sec. 58. Contracting or Subcontracting of Services. – The contracting or subcontracting 
of seafarers for work onboard domestic ships shall be governed by existing rules and 
regulations by the DOLE.  
 
CHAPTER XV 
MANNING LEVELS AND COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT 
OF SHIPS OF PHILIPPINE REGISTRY 
 
 
Sec. 59. Manning Levels. – All ships of Philippine registry shall have the required 
minimum manning levels as prescribed by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). They 
shall, at all times, be manned by a crew that is adequate in terms of size and qualifications 
taking into account the need to operate the vessel safely and efficiently. 
 
 
Sec. 60. Crew Competence. – Every member of the crew of a ship of Philippine registry 
shall possess, in addition to the required medical certificate, the appropriate certificate of 
competency issued by the relevant government agency/ies, setting forth his/her competence to 
serve in the capacity, and perform the functions involved at the level of responsibility, for the 
position held, for the type, tonnage, power, means of propulsion, and trading patterns of the 
ships concerned. 
 
The certificate of competency shall attest that the seafarer to whom it is issued meets 
the requirements for service, age, qualification, and examinations for the position held.  
 
 
Sec. 61. Compliance and Certification. – All ships of Philippine registry shall comply 
with the provisions of this Act. The shipowner and master shall ensure the compliance of the 
ship with this Act and its implementing rules and regulations, who shall be made principally 
liable for any violation thereof.  


24 
 
 
For this purpose, a Maritime Labour Certificate or a certificate of compliance, as 
applicable, shall be issued in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations of this 
Act.  
 
 
Sec. 62. Inspection and Enforcement. –  
a) The Secretary of Labor and the appropriate Secretary-in-charge of migration-
related matters, or his/her duly authorized representative, shall have the authority to 
inspect all ships of Philippine registry, domestic or ocean-going, to ensure 
compliance with labor standards and occupational safety and health as provided 
under this Act.  
The enforcement and compliance monitoring activities may be coordinated and 
conducted by the DOLE with the relevant government agencies, including 
MARINA and PCG, in conjunction with their schedules for inspection and 
certification.  
The Secretary of Labor or the appropriate Secretary-in-charge of migration-related 
matters, or his/her duly authorized representative shall have the power to order 
immediate correction of, and impose fines for, violations of the relevant provisions 
of this Act.  
If the violation or deficiency constitutes a serious breach of the requirement of this 
Act and its implementing rules and regulations or poses an imminent danger to the 
ships, and/or to the life or limbs of the seafarer, the Secretary of Labor or the 
appropriate Secretary-in-charge of migration-related matters, or his/her duly 
authorized representative shall coordinate with the PCG to order the detention of 
the ship immediately until the violation or deficiency is corrected or until a plan of 
action to rectify the non-conformities is shown to be implemented in an expeditious 
manner.  
b) The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shall have the authority to conduct the port state 
control inspections of vessels, including all foreign-flagged vessels, calling at any 
port of the Philippines, for the promotion of safety of life and property at sea, control 
and prevention of maritime pollution, and verification of compliance with the 
minimum standards of training and social condition of officers and crew on board 
the ships. The PCG shall assist relevant agencies in the enforcement of the 
provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations, and the MLC, 
2006.  


25 
 
The conduct of port state controls shall be in accordance with international 
conventions and instruments ratified or to be ratified in the future.  
The PCG Commandant or his/her duly authorized representative shall have the 
power to order immediate correction of, and impose fines for, violations of the 
relevant provisions of this Act. 
The PCG shall prohibit a ship from leaving port upon the order of the Secretary of 
Labor or the appropriate Secretary-in-charge of migration-related matters, or in case 
of finding of non-compliance with the provisions of this Act and the MLC, 2006 
and/or its amendments and the conditions on board are clearly hazardous to the 
safety, health or security of seafarers. In all cases, the prohibition to leave the port 
shall be in place until the same have been rectified or until a plan of action to rectify 
the non-conformities is shown to be implemented in an expeditious manner, and 
cleared by the Secretary of Labor or the appropriate Secretary-in-charge of 
migration-related matters.  
 
 
Sec. 63. Recognized Organizations. – Recognized organizations may be authorized by 
the Secretary of Labor to conduct inspection and issue certification in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. 
 
A recognized organization shall have the necessary knowledge of the requirements of 
this Act and its implementing rules and regulations, the MLC, 2006 and other relevant 
international treaties or conventions. 
 
A recognized organization shall also have the necessary and qualified professional, 
technical and support expertise to carry out the conduct of inspection and issuance of 
certification. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
SHIPBOARD TRAINING OF CADETS 
 
 
Sec. 64. Applicability. – The provisions of Sections 5 to 17 (Seafarers’ Rights), Sections 
18 to 19 (Women in the Maritime Industry), Section 22 (Medical Certificate), Sections 35 to 
39 (Accommodation, Recreation Facilities, Food and Catering in Ships), Section 40 (Medical 
Care On Board Ships and Ashore), Sections 45 to 47 (Settlement of Disputes), Sections 48 to 
50 (Repatriation) shall apply with respect to the training of cadets.  
 


26 
 
 
Sec. 65. Shipboard Training Agreement for Cadets. – There shall be a written 
agreement between the shipowner, the cadet and the maritime institution or school which shall 
embody the following information, terms and conditions: 
a) Cadet’s full name, date of birth, birthplace and age, which should be at least sixteen 
(16) years old; 
b) Name and address of the maritime institution or school; 
c) Name and address of the shipowner and its manning and placement agency, if 
applicable; 
d) Place and date when the agreement is entered into; 
e) Capacity in which the cadet is to be trained; 
f) The amount of the cadet’s allowance or stipend, if applicable; 
g) Required number of hours of training and rest which shall not be less than the 
prescribed hours of rest in Section 26 of this Act; 
h) Duties and responsibilities of the sponsoring company, Maritime Higher Education 
Institutions (MHEIs), and cadets, as may be provided under the Standard Cadet 
Training Agreement on Ships Engaged in International Voyage; and 
i) Other benefits in accordance with existing laws, company policy or agreements. 
 
In no case shall cadets perform activities outside of the scope of the cadet shipboard 
training program.  
The foregoing agreement shall be in a language familiar to and understood by all parties 
in English, executed in four (4) original copies before the commencement of the shipboard 
training. The shipowner, cadet and the maritime institution/school shall each have a signed 
original of the agreement and an electronic copy thereof shall be submitted to the DOLE, 
through the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC).  A signed original copy shall also be made 
available on board the ship. 
 
Sec. 66. No Discrimination of Women for Shipboard Training. – Women cadets shall 
be accorded equal access to training and shall not be discriminated against for shipboard 
training.  
 
CHAPTER XVII 
INCENTIVES AND AWARDS GRANTED TO THE MARITIME INDUSTRY 
 


27 
 
 
Sec. 67. Incentives and Awards.– There shall be established an incentives and awards 
system for the maritime industry stakeholders which shall be developed and administered by 
the concerned government agency in consultation with the Maritime Industry Tripartite 
Council (MITC). 
 
Under such rules and regulations that may be promulgated, deserving shipowners, 
seafarers, manning and other organizations or entities shall be commended or awarded for their 
outstanding performance in upholding the rights of seafarers and complying with this Act. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
 
 
Sec. 68. Role of Government Agencies. – The following government agencies shall 
perform the following functions to promote the welfare and protect the rights of Filipino 
seafarers: 
a) Commission on Higher Education (CHED) – The CHED shall set the standards and 
monitor the performance of maritime education programs and maritime higher 
education institutions, ensuring that quality maritime education, including curricula 
and training programs, are structured and delivered in accordance with the written 
programs, methods, and media of delivery, procedures, and course materials 
compliant with international standards prescribed under the STCW Convention and 
its amendments. For this purpose, CHED shall be in close coordination with the 
MARINA.  
b) Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). – The DOLE shall ensure that the 
standards set forth under this Act, Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, and 
other domestic laws, the MLC, 2006 and other international treaties and 
conventions to which the Philippines is a signatory are faithfully complied with and 
fairly applied to Filipino seafarers. 
To this end, the DOLE shall establish an effective system for the inspection and 
certification to ensure the working and living conditions of seafarers are met and 
continue to be met pursuant to the MLC, 2006. 
c) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). – DFA, through its consular offices or 
foreign service posts, in coordination with the appropriate government agency, shall 
take priority action or make representation with the foreign authority concerned to 
protect the rights of seafarers and extend immediate assistance.  


28 
 
d) Department of Health (DOH). – The DOH shall regulate the activities and 
operations of all clinics which conduct physical, optical, dental, psychological and 
other similar examinations, hereinafter referred to as health examinations, on 
Filipino seafarers. 
The DOH shall determine and prescribe the nature of the medical examination that 
shall be required of a seafarer, ensuring that such examination will genuinely 
determine the seafarer’s state of health, considering the duties that the seafarer shall 
be required to perform on board. The DOH shall likewise prescribe the contents of 
the medical certificate to ensure that such certification will genuinely reflect the 
seafarer’s state of health. 
e) Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) – The DMW, including the Migrant 
Workers Office (MWO), shall be the primary agency tasked to protect the rights 
and promote the welfare of overseas Filipino seafarers, in accordance to its mandate 
under Republic Act No. 11641 or the “Department of Migrant Workers Act.”  It 
shall also review and improve on the working conditions and terms of employment 
of the officers and crew of vessels of Philippine registry, and of such officers and 
crew members who are Filipino citizens and employed by foreign vessels. 
DMW shall develop and implement a national reintegration program for seafarers, 
as prescribed under Chapter XIII, Section 52 of this Act. 
DMW, through the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), shall strengthen its 
research capability to provide studies/resources for evidence-based policy decision-
making and program development, and continuously address gaps in the protection 
and welfare of the seafarers. The NMP shall also continue to develop, enhance, and 
increase the accessibility of its gender and women empowerment and training 
courses for seafarers to the maritime industry, which shall be made available in an 
format, including digital and/or e-learning format.  
f) Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). – The OWWA, through its 
welfare officer or, in his absence, the coordinating officer, shall provide the 
seafarers and his/her family all the assistance they may need in the enforcement of 
contractual obligations by agencies and/or by their principals. 
The OWWA shall likewise formulate and implement welfare programs for overseas 
Filipino seafarers and their families while they are abroad and upon their return. It 
shall ensure the awareness by the overseas Filipino seafarers and their families of 
these programs and other related governmental programs. 


29 
 
g) Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). – The MARINA shall ensure that the 
examination, licensing, and certification system for seafarers are in accordance with 
the requirements prescribed under STCW Convention, international agreements, 
other conventions relevant thereto, and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.  
h) Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). – The PCG shall undertake port state control 
inspections of vessels calling at any port of the Philippines, in accordance with 
international conventions and standards, for the promotion of safety of life and 
property at sea, control and prevention of maritime pollution, and verification of 
compliance with the minimum standards of training and social condition of officers 
and crew on board the ships.  
The PCG shall, in line with its function to assist in the enforcement of applicable 
laws within the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines, shall assist the DOLE in 
the enforcement of the rules and regulations issued for the purpose of implementing 
the MLC 2006, including orders to detain vessels found in gross violation of 
pertinent laws, rules and regulations. 
Unless otherwise provided in this Act, the mandate, power and function of all existing 
departments, agencies or instrumentalities of the government, including government-owned 
and controlled corporations, shall remain and continue to be recognized in accordance with the 
law or order creating them. 
 
 
Sec. 69. One Stop Shop Center for OFWs (OSSOC). – There shall be established in each 
region a One Stop Shop Center for OFWs, which shall be co-located in the regional offices of 
the DMW, and shall have, as far as practicable, representatives from agencies that process the 
documents or issue the required licenses, permits and clearances required of seafarers. 
 
 
Sec. 70. Registry of Seafarers. – The DMW, for ocean-going ships of foreign registry, 
and MARINA, for domestic and ocean-going ships of Philippine registry, shall maintain a 
registry of all seafarers in the Philippines; Provided, that the registry of seafarers aboard ocean-
going ships shall be integrated to the management information system established under the 
Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, as amended. The registry shall contain updated 
and relevant information or data to promote employment opportunities for seafarers, whether 
on board or ashore, or to provide a list of available training and education to support skills and 
development and competencies of seafarers, as well as a digitized copy of the duly executed 
contract.  


30 
 
 
DMW and MARINA shall ensure compliance with Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise 
known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012,” and its implementing rules and regulations in 
handling the relevant information or data of seafarers in their respective registries.  
 
 
Sec. 71. Maritime Occupational Safety and Health Standards. – The DOLE, in 
consultation with the maritime industry stakeholders, shall formulate the Maritime 
Occupational Safety and Health Standards (MOSHS) pursuant to the provisions of Republic 
Act No. 11058, otherwise known as the “Occupational Safety and Health Law” and pertinent 
maritime conventions and treaties ratified by the Philippines.  
 
CHAPTER XIX 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
 
Sec. 72. Administrative Fines and Penalties.– Any shipowner, master, their 
representatives or other person who fails or refuses to present employment records, such as 
payrolls, daily time records, payslip or other documents, such as medical records, when 
required by the individual seafarer, the Secretary of Labor or his duly authorized representative, 
or the duly authorized representative of a recognized organization, shall be subjected to 
administrative fines ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (Php100,000.00) to One million 
pesos (Php1,000,000.00), in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations of this 
Act. 
 
 
Sec. 73. Penalties for Violations of Section 68. – Any shipowner, master, their 
representatives who operate without, or fails to present, a valid Maritime Labour Certificate, 
or its equivalent, shall be punished with fines ranging from One hundred thousand pesos 
(Php100,000.00) to One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00), in accordance with the 
implementing rules and regulations of this Act.  
 
 
Sec. 74. Penalties for Violations of Sections 69 and 70. – Any person who, without 
proper authorization, exercises the authority granted to the Secretary of Labor and Employment 
under Sections 69 and 70 of this Act shall be punished with a fine of not less than Two hundred 
thousand pesos (Php200,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00), or 
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than four (4) years, or both at the discretion 
of the court. The foregoing offense shall be prescribed after five (5) years from its commission.  


31 
 
 
 
Sec. 75. Transitory Provision. – All rights, privileges and benefits previously enjoyed 
by Filipino seafarers before the effectivity of this Act, including those set forth in Presidential 
Decree No. 442, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, and 
Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act 
of 1995”, as amended, shall continue to be recognized and shall not be diminished after the 
effectivity of this Act.  
 
 
Sec. 76. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DOLE, in coordination with the DMW, DFA, MARINA, CHED, 
TESDA, PCG, OWWA, and other concerned agencies, and upon consultation with relevant 
stakeholders, shall formulate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this 
Act. 
 
 
Sec. 77. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any section, clause or term of this Act 
is held to be illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by such declaration 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
 
Sec. 78. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, executive orders, 
letters of instruction, rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
 
Sec. 79. Effectivity.– This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,