Migration in Focus—Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers: Bridging the Gaps between Standards and Capacity

23 June 2023—The Philippines has been one of the major sources of seafarers in the world. However, even with the country’s dominance in the industry, compliance with international standards regarding the skills and knowledge of Filipino seafarers has been questioned in the global sphere. This alarming situation pushed the government to establish a bill that shall upscale the capacity of Filipino seafarers, promote gender equality, and protect their rights, the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.

As we observe the annual Day of the Seafarer (DotS) on June 25, The University of the Philippines – Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders (UP-CIFAL) Philippines emphasizes the intention of this bill to bridge the gap between the capacity of Filipino seafarers with the international standards. This is a significant step in migration that shall ensure that Filipino maritime migrants are safe and ready to keep up with the changing labor landscape. If the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers becomes a law in the future, it will also affirm the significance of capacity building in migration and gender equality.