Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 12:01 p.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho A job of a seafarer is not exactly a walk in the park as one with a heart condition is “a walking time bomb ready to explode towards the end of his employment days.” (GSIS vs. Alcaraz, GR. 187474, February 6, 2013) Cardiovascular disease…
Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 3:55 p.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho A seafarer ’s illness which caused his post-repatriation death must be properly documented during the term of his contract in relation to death compensation benefits. As a general rule, the death of the seafarer should occur during the effectivity of the employment contract in order…
Monday, January 21, 2019, 5:58 p.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho A seafarer who suffered a stroke on board the vessel must be compensated due to work-related stress. In the case of Magsaysay Mitsui OSK Marine, Inc, v. Bengson (G.R. No. 198528, October 13, 2014) disregarded the employer ’s claim that the seafarer’s hypertensive cardiovascular disease is not compensable…
Monday, January 14, 2019, 3:20 p.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho The escrow provision in the proposed Magna Carta for Filipino seafarers violates the constitutional guarantee on equal protection. The Joint Manning Group is pushing for the inclusion of an escrow provision which is a mere dilatory tactic in the execution of the seafarers’ monetary awards.…
Monday, January 14, 2019, 3:18 p.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho A seafarer who suffered stroke on board the vessel must be compensated due to work-related stress. In the case of Magsaysay Mitsui OSK Marine, Inc, v. Bengson (G.R. No. 198528, October 13, 2014) disregarded the employer’s claim that the seafarer’s hypertensive cardio-vascular disease is not compensable on…
Sunday, September 9, 2018, 11:23 p.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho Despite the perceived high income they receive, it becomes difficult for some Filipino seafarers to make the earnings last for the period of vacation and examinations, which in recent times can be inordinately long. Not all seafarers have the privilege of getting redeployed immediately after…
Tuesday, August 7, 2018, 12:03 a.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho Seafarers are considered contractual employees. Their employment 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 when the contract expires. Their employment is contractually fixed for…
Tuesday, July 31, 2018, 1:30 a.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho IN SOME instances, Filipino seafarers who aggressively assert their rights are wrongfully accused of mutiny, leading to the early termination of their contract by dismissal. Mutiny is a conspiracy of an overt act of defiance, oppose or attack upon ship authority by two or…
Friday, July 13, 2018, 1:17 a.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho Protection of eyes is of paramount importance while working on ships. Shipboard jobs such as welding, chipping, painting, and working with hazardous material such as oil and chemicals as well as exposure to the sun’s UV rays pose great danger to the seafarer ’s eyes. If…
Monday, July 9, 2018, 3:20 a.m. By Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho A medically repatriated seafarer would normally result in depriving him of compensation income due to his inability to perform his sea duties. Away from his family and working on board vessels sailing non-stop for weeks or months the world’s oceans, the Filipino seafarer is…