• NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
Baguio Chronicle
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Baguio Chronicle
No Result
View All Result
Home Uncategorized

Pinoy Marino Rights – Challenges of women seafarers in a male-dominated maritime industry

Dennis Gorecho by Dennis Gorecho
March 15, 2021
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Contact Form
6
SHARES
22
VIEWS

THE word “seafarer” has replaced the word “seaman” in the male-dominated maritime industry, often considered as politically-correct word due to the increasing  presence of women in the profession in recent decades.

In older times, the term “seaman” was widely used to describe anyone working at sea while the term “seawoman” was alternatively used.

The word seafarer came from the combination of the words “sea” and “farer” ( from  the Old English “farere”  meaning to journey or travel). The Badjaos  ( men of the seas or sea gypsies ) are sometime identified as  seafarers since  members of this  tribal group are known to  move with the wind and the tide on their small houseboats called vintas.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, the term “seaman” has not totally been pushed into oblivion as some still call the Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book(SIRB) as ‘seaman’s book. 

The SIRB is a document provided by the flag state for travel to or from an assigned vessel that  also indicates the continuous record of the seafarers while he  is onboard a ship, and specifies  the particular category or rating which the holder is qualified to serve.

The usage of seafarer as a politically correct word can partly be attributed to the actions of the United Nations (UN) in promoting gender equality.   Women have been taking part in industries that once solely belonged to men, the maritime industry included.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) noted that women represent only less than two percent of the world’s estimated 1.2 million seafarers as  94 percent of them are  working in the cruise industry  and six percent  are employed on cargo vessels, container ships or oil tankers.

Within the historically male-dominated industry, IMO stressed it has been making a concerted effort to help the industry move forward and support women to achieve representation in keeping with current expectations.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim earlier said the maritime industry needs more women because of the quality work they provide as  they are  very important human resources.

During the recent episode of  the online show Amigos Marino, Merle San Pedro,  Women in Maritime Philippines (WiMaPhil)  president, pushed for better protection for women seafarers.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, she made the call  as part of their campaign not only to promote women as seafarers but also as part of the whole maritime industry — shipping, ports, maritime administration, maritime education and training, and logistics.

Women  seafarers face not only the general challenges of weather, hard work and rough seas, but also inordinate amounts of discrimination, exploitation,  sexual harassment, violence and   limited opportunities for promotion. These can affect their  dignity, security, health, and well-being.

San Pedro stressed that  employers must have effective mechanisms and guidelines to promptly address sexual harassment and violence incidents committed against female seafarers and cadettes.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) called on industry stakeholders to prioritize a range of women seafarers’  issues, including (a) reducing gender stereotypes within the industry; (b) provision of sanitary items on board ships; (c) access to confidential medical advice and contraceptives; (d) consistent and improved approach to maternity benefits and rights;  and ( e) development of sexual harassment policies and appropriate training, including within cadet training and education.

In the Philippines, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has recorded 73,027 women seafarers – almost 10 percent of approximately one million Filipino seafarers issued with Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) as of December 2018. For the school year 2015 to 2016, there are 4,791 female students out of the 219,722 enrollees in maritime schools.

The growing number of female seafarers encourages a competitive environment  for  the ability of women to work at an equal footing with men in a purely male-dominated profession.

The Philippines is considered as one of the major supplier of maritime labor globally as it is estimated that there is one Filipino seafarer for every four to five crewmembers on board a vessel at any time.

The sea-based sector’s remittances comprise at least 22 percent of the total dollar remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

 The estimated 519,031 deployed Filipino seafarers in 2019 (per Philippine Overseas Employment Administration data) remitted $6.539 billion or around P326.95 billion.

Atty. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786)

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

New Heights – On Loakan

Next Post

Textual Sleuthing – A missing R, in ( r)ice

Dennis Gorecho

Dennis Gorecho

ATTY. DENNIS R. GORECHO had two of Eraserheads band members as his roommates while studying at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He was a staff photographer of the UP Collegian and wrote for the Manila-based newspaper Today. He was admitted to the bar in 1999 after which he joined the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan (SVBB) Law Office where he is now a junior partner and heads the seafarers’ division.

Related Posts

Benguet rep files for higher legal drinking age

July 18, 2022

NEW HEIGHTS – When I die

November 29, 2021

Baguio grows high-quality tomatoes you never would dump anywhere

The Wonder of Women

Bay-an’s 6th solo exhibit celebrates Ibaloy Day

Hello world!

Latest Stories

New Heights – Millstones and milestones

March 28, 2023

On Point – Flight may equate to guilt

March 28, 2023

Rooster’s Tales – Igorots red-tagged!

March 28, 2023

Baguio Chronicle

 

The Baguio Chronicle is the fastest- growing news publication in Northern Luzon today. It was established on December 6, 2009 in Baguio City.

© 2022 The Baguio Chronicle Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In