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Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has approved the amendments to the standard employment contract of Filipino seafarers working on ocean-going ships.
However, the revised contract has failed to incorporate several proposed terms deemed to be advantageous to management due to protest from unions and non-government organizations.
Some of these provisions include the "exclusive" jurisdictional clause over disputes and controversies arising by virtue of the POEA approved contract such as tort claims and the mandatory disclosure of the seafarers' "medical condition."
But the new contract highlights the inclusion of voluntary arbitration as mode of settling disputes and tort claims coverage.
The POEA also crossed out the proposed "full disclosure of any medical condition or disability known to him (seafarer) and existing at the time of his application for employment and/or during his pre-employment medical examination and/or upon signing of his contract."
The government labor agency also deleted the proposal that the provision on open overtime should only be applied to ratings and not to officers.
Meanwhile, the Filipino Association for Mariners' Employment welcomes the signing of the new order amending the standard terms and conditions of Filipino seafarers.
FAME said the revision of the standard employment was a response to the recent developments in the maritime industry and the need to maintain the Filipino seafarers' competitive advantage against foreign counterparts.
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