President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the ceremonial signing of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, honoring the sacrifices of overseas seafarers and their significant contributions to economic growth.

In his speech, President Marcos emphasized the importance of the new law which aims to uphold the fundamental rights of seafarers.

“At its core, this new law aims to uphold the fundamental rights of our overseas seafarers: their right to fair wages, safe working conditions, and skills and competency development, amongst others,” President Marcos said.

The President said fair wages are not just about numbers on a paycheck. Seafarers must be compensated fairly for their hard work and dedication, he added.

On working conditions, the President said companies should not only focus on compliance but must also ensure the seafarers’ safety and protection not only from the dangers they face but also from exploitation and discrimination.

“Skills development is not just a provision in the law; it is about upgrading their qualifications to promote career growth, it is about providing them tools, training, and support to become more competitive both here and abroad,” he said.

The President added that the Magna Carta will “seamlessly align with the Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW), as well as accepted global maritime labor laws.”

“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,” he said. |PND