Quezon City – In a groundbreaking initiative aligned with the recent enactment of Republic Act No. 12021, or the Magna Carta for Seafarers, and in relation to Republic Act No. 10706, or the Seafarer’s Protection Act, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) has launched a nationwide effort through the creation of NLRC Action Desks. These desks are tasked with receiving and acting upon reports of ambulance chasing and excessive legal fees charged to seafarers, in strict compliance with the provisions of the law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The NLRC Action Desks were created to serve as accessible reporting mechanisms for seafarers and stakeholders seeking redress from unethical practices within the maritime labor sector.

Chairperson Grace E. Maniquiz-Tan expressed her full support for the establishment of the NLRC Action Desks, describing it as a concrete step toward safeguarding Filipino seafarers from the persistent issues of ambulance chasing and excessive legal fees. She emphasized that the NLRC, as a protector of labor rights, holds a crucial duty to provide maritime workers with a reliable and accessible venue where they can report and seek redress for exploitative practices.

As part of the Commission’s nationwide initiative, Action Desks have been strategically established across key regions to ensure accessibility and prompt response to reports.

For Luzon, the NLRC Action Desk will manage all reports from the Regional Arbitration Branches (RABs) within the region, as well as the 1st to 6th Divisions of the Commission. This desk will be housed in the Office of the Executive Clerk of Court, operating under the supervision of the Executive Clerk of Court IV.

In the Visayas, the Action Desk will cater to concerns originating from RABs in the region and the NLRC’s 7th Division. It will be located within the Office of the Executive Clerk of Court – 7th Division, functioning under the direction of the Executive Clerk of Court II.

Meanwhile, the Action Desk for Mindanao will receive and process reports from RABs and the 8th Division of the Commission. This desk will be housed in the Office of the Executive Clerk of Court – 8th Division, also under the supervision of an Executive Clerk of Court II.

By establishing these Action Desks, the Commission continues to demonstrate its dedication to protecting the welfare of seafarers while promoting ethical legal practices in line with the principles of justice, accountability, and professional integrity.

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