Monday, June 11, 2018, 2:47 a.m. By Atty. Dennis Gorecho To be entitled to compensation and benefits, it is not sufficient to simply establish that the seafarer’s pneumonia has rendered him permanently or partially disabled; it must also be shown that there is a causal connection between the seafarer’s illness or injury and the work…
Tuesday, May 8, 2018, 12:03 a.m. By: Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho It is a well-known fact that seafaring is one of the most hazardous occupations, in regards to personal health and safety concerns of seafarers. Apart from accidents, seafarers are prone to certain serious diseases and health hazards due to the nature of onboard…
Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 12:41 a.m. By: Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho The liabilities of the employer when the seafarer suffers work-related injury or illness during the term of his contract include medical treatment apart from disability benefits and sickness allowance. A medically repatriated seafarer, either due to an injury or an illness, should remember that…
Monday, January 15, 2018, 11:31 p.m. By: Atty Dennis R. Gorecho The Supreme Court warned companies from issuing dubious Certificate of Fitness which it described as “a ploy that aims to take advantage of the worker’s lack of sufficient legal knowledge and his desperate circumstances” The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a young seafarer…
4:41 am Thursday, September 28, 2017 By: Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho The Twenty-Second National Seafarers’ Day was celebrated on September 24, 2017, with the theme “MARINONG FILIPINO: NAG-UUGNAY SA MUNDO”. The Manila celebration was held at the Cuneta Astrodome. Former president Fidel V. Ramos earlier issued on July 9, 1996 Proclamation No. 828 declaring August 18…
2:35 pm Tuesday, August 15, 2017 By: Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho The original manning agency cannot claim that it will be exempted from liability because it is no longer the manning agency responsible to the dismissed seafarers since the new manning agencies had executed Affidavits of Assumption of Responsibility. In Section 1 of Rule II…
3:30 am Tuesday, August 15, 2017 By: Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho It is settled that the employer has the burden to prove that the dismissal of a seafarer is based on a valid cause. To discharge this burden, the employer must present substantial evidence – or such amount of relevant evidence that a reasonable mind…
4:12 am Thursday, July 27, 2017 By: Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho Homesickness and/or family problems may result to depression, but the same does not necessarily equate to mental disorder that will enable the heirs to be entitled to death benefits for a seafarer who allegedly committed suicide. This was the ruling of the Supreme Court…
1:00am Friday, June 9, 2017 By: Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho The employment of Filipino seafarers is governed by the Standard Employment Contract (SEC) they sign and duly approved by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) every time they are rehired and their employment is terminated upon its completion. As a general rule, the employment of the seafarer shall cease when…
5:09 am Thursday, May 25, 2017 By: Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho A UK P&I study noted that Suicide is the highest cause of fatalities at sea as a result of mental health issues among seafarers, accounting for 15% of deaths. Factors for suicides in the case of seafarers include young age, isolation and the impact…