sponsorship speech: maritime labour convention, 2006

Resolution Concurring in the Ratification of

Maritime Labour Convention

“Manilamen”and

Filipino Seafarers of today

Filipinos are said to be the first Asians to cross the Pacific Ocean, having

figured prominently during the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade from 1565 to

1815.

Port of Manila

The first Filipino settlers in America – known as “Manilamen” -- were Filipino

seafarers who “jumped ship” in 1763 to escape the cruelty of life at sea and the

brutality of their shipmasters.

FILIPINOS IN THE MARITIME WORLD

30%of 1.2 million seafarersare Filipinos in the global shipping fleet today.

FILIPINOS SEAFARERS BEING DEPLOYED

2008

2010Increased by an average of

16%per year

90%

of world trade is carried on ships manned by seafarers

PHILIPPINESfamed for the quality and

competitiveness of its seafarers

THREAT OF PIRACY

750 Filipino seafarers in more than 60 vessels

believed to have been taken captive since 2006

Without seafarers, nearly a third of the world’s shipping industry would be paralyzed.

The Maritine Labour Convention, 2006 is the

seafarers’ bill of rights. It provides comprehensive rights and protection at work for 1.2 million seafarers worldwide,

including nearly 400,000 Filipino domestic and international

seafarers.

BASIC RIGHTS:• Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

• The elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor

• The effective abolition of child labor

• The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

Governmentsare called upon by the Convention to effectively enforce its regulatory role in ensuring safer and secure shipping, in preventing marine pollution, and in ensuring decent work for seafarers.

THE MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION, 2006 SETS TWO REQUIREMENTS:1. The Convention needs to be ratified by at

least 30 members

2. The ratifying members should have a shared tonnage of at least 33% of the world gross tonnage of ships

The action demanded of us is of great

consequence to 1.2 million seafarers

worldwide, 400,000 of whom are our very own.

THANK YOU