DAVID Dearsley, secretary-general of International Maritime Employers Committee, is pictured here at a local forum attended by Philippine labor officials Thursday. As the representative of an international group of maritime employers, Dearsley has asked Manila to ratify the International Labor Organization’s Maritime Labor Convention, 2006. Once approved, the global accord sets better working conditions for sailors currently working onboard ocean-going vessels, a third of which are Filipinos. --Roy Domingo

AN international group of maritime employers has asked the Philippine government to ratify the International Labor Organization’s Maritime Labor Convention, 2006. Also known as the seafarers’ bill of rights, the convention will become global regulations once endorsed by at least 30 countries whose companies provide 33 percent of the world’s total vessel capacity.

In a forum attended by local labor officials Thursday, David Dearsley, secretary-general of the International Maritime Employers Committee, said that Manila should first ensure that measures are in place to make shipping companies comply with the global accord.

He admitted that ratifying the convention—which requires congressional approval—would be beneficial to Filipino seafarers, who comprise a third of the world’s crewmembers. But he also said that the new regulations could affect the operations of vessels registered in the country.

“It will be a loss of credibility for the Philippines if it will not ratify because it will show that the country will just supply seafarers, but not necessarily the best ones,” Dearsley said, adding that he expects the Philippines to ratify the law within six years.

The new international ruling, which revises 37 previous conventions on the seafarers, many of which were made during 1920s, prescribes the minimum requirements of sailors’ working conditions. One of the provisions indicate that the workers should have “decent accommodation and recreational facilities onboard,” quality food and sanitation, medical care, among others.

Proposed fund to hike fuel prices

ESTABLISHING a fund which would help cover accidents involving oil tankers will increase shipping fees and fuel costs since collections for the pooled money may be passed on to customers.

RP asked to ratify new sailor rules

AN international group of maritime employers has asked the Philippine government to ratify the International Labor Organization’s Maritime Labor Convention, 2006. Also known as the seafarers’ bill of rights, the convention will become global regulations once endorsed by at least 30 countries whose companies provide 33 percent of the world’s total vessel capacity.