SENATOR IMEE Marcos believes that one long-term solution to make Filipino seafarers more competitive is to forge arrangements of educational and technical assistance from maritime countries for potential crew from the Philippines.

She added that maritime schools need to be equipped with more simulators and update training onboard.

“Filipino seafarers are in demand because they have a reputation of being fast learners with natural skills and a good work attitude, often willing to do overtime for extended periods,” Marcos said.

An estimated 50,000 Filipinos make up about 20 percent of seafarers on European Union ships and preserving their jobs and creating new ones will depend on the government’s prompt and consistent action, she said.

Marcos explained that the labor shortage in the world’s maritime industry surely figured in the European Union’s decision to continue recognizing the work certificates of Filipino seafarers.

“It’s a blessing in disguise that allows us to breathe a collective sigh of relief, but this is no time for complacency,” she said.

However, the senator is afraid that a provision in the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, recently passed by the Lower House, risks another wave of scrutiny by the European Union’s welfare standards watchdog and again causes job insecurity among our seafarers.

“As chairman of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, I intend to question that provision which puts a seafarer’s death and disability benefits on hold, possibly for many years, until relevant legal proceedings are concluded. How could the Magna Carta itself discriminate against seafarers, when all other Filipino workers are able to collect such compensation promptly?” she stressed.