On the basis of the consensus among industry associations, seafarer unions and NGOs, and taking into account the recent upgraded rate made by the 84th Session of the Joint Maritime Conference of the International Labour Organization, the basic salary for Filipino Able Seaman is hereby upgraded under the following guidelines:

1.         All shipowners and principals shall pay able seaman a minimum basic wage of US$335;

2.         The minimum basic wage shall apply to all Filipino able seaman on board foreign flag vessels;

3.         The upgraded minimum wage shall apply only to new joining able seaman from date of effectivity;

4.         This Order shall take effect 01 January 1997;

5.         Existing shipboard employment contract prior to this wage increase shall remain valid and unaffected by this Order until the expiration of such contracts;

6.         Starting from date of effectivity hereof, only shipboard employment contracts for able seaman which provides a monthly basic pay of US$335 or above shall be accepted for processing by POEA.

For compliance.

Adopted: 26 Dec. 1996