DOLE joins international forum on protecting seafarers’ rights, welfare

DOLE joins international forum on protecting seafarers’ rights, welfare
November 28, 2025, https://manilastandard.net/business/314674268/dole-joins-international-f...

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) joined local and global experts at the 2025 International Conference on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety, and Well-Being, centered on safer workplaces, fair treatment, and better opportunities for Filipino seafarers and their families.

DOLE Assistant Secretary Lennard Constantine C. Serrano, who represented DOLE in the panel discussion on “Upholding Human Rights at Sea for All and at All Times,” outlined the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to strengthen protections and improve conditions for seafarers worldwide.

The whole-of-nation approach to support Filipino seafarers is an affirmation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administration’s commitment to protect workers, including seafarers here and abroad, through the collaborative efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and DOLE.

“Human rights are inherent to all people simply by virtue of being human—they should be respected and protected at all times,” Assistant Secretary Serrano said.

He explained that the Philippines, as a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), works with other nations to uphold decent work and fair treatment for seafarers.

The official added that the passage of Republic Act No. 12021, or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, reinforces this commitment by aligning national laws with the latest MLC standards.

The conference brought together international experts, government officials, industry leaders, and advocates to discuss ways to improve the conditions of workers who keep the world’s supply chains moving. It was co-organized by the DFA, MARINA, DMW, and DOLE.

The event built on United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 56/18, adopted in Geneva in July 2024 as the first-ever global resolution dedicated to seafarers’ rights. The resolution was initiated by the Philippines through the DFA to recognize that protecting seafarers is not only a labor concern but also a human rights imperative tied to global trade, economic stability, and the welfare of millions of families who depend on them.