International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) hosted a three-day and the biggest seafarers expo in the seafaring capital of the world, Manila, Philippines from June 23-25. Despite the unpredictable weather, seafarers and their families flocked to the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation’s (MMC) booth and complemented with freebies and snacks.
Around 5,000 Filipino seafarers and their families participated in the event that gathered global seafaring organizations, associations, unions, and the country’s top manning companies.
Philippine lawmakers led by the Philippine House of Representative Speaker Romualdez shared the Magna Carta for seafarers which encompasses the comprehensive protection of seafarers and their families before and after their employment. The bill passed the third and final reading in the lower house and would undergo the readings in the Senate.
Some of the rights included in the Magna Carta for Seafarers are a safe and secure workplace, fair terms and conditions of employment, protection against discrimination, educational advancement and training, free legal representation, access to communication, and fair medical assessment.