On 13 March 2024, Rajah & Tann organised a hybrid event titled “Seafarer Employment in 2024: Legal Updates and Perspectives from Philippines and Singapore”.
The Maritime Labour Convention (“MLC“) has required vessels subject to the MLC to display on board a certificate indicating that there is in place a valid Financial Security covering the vessel owners’ liabilities for up to four months’ outstanding wages and entitlements, repatriation costs and the essential needs of the seafarers. When furnished by the vessel’s P&I club, such Financial Security would be evidenced by an MLC Certificate issued by the P&I club.
At the seminar, the speakers highlighted recent cases where P&I clubs successfully recovered wage payments made to seafarers and repatriation cost outlay under the MLC, in the context of local admiralty proceedings. They also discussed recent amendments made to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) regime following the establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers (“DMW“) in the Philippines. DMW seeks to enhance assistance and services for overseas Filipino workers including seafarers.
The speakers were Kendall Tan, Head of the Shipping & International Trade Practice, Max Lim from the same Practice, and Miguel S. Lazaro from Rajah& Tann Asia Philippine member firm C&G Law.
