Amended Philippines Crew Contract in Force

Shipowners, whose P&I clubs and legal advisers have in recent years been called upon to sort out problems with Filipino crew claims pursued outside the Philippines, will doubtless welcome the news that an amended Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Standard Crew Contract came into force last month. In its latest newsletter, the London P&I Club notes that the amendments, which are expected to cut down the number of disputes, had been strongly resisted by seafaring unions, and that the Philippines supreme court issued a restraining order last September preventing the use of the amended contract. But the same court has now dismissed the previous action, leaving the way open for the new contract to enter force. Source: Maritime Advocate