Philippine Shipping Update - (Issue 2012/10)
Supreme Court rules voluntary arbitrators and not NLRC have jurisdiction on claims of seafarers with CBA
Author's Note: There has always been an issue as to who has jurisdiction on claims of seafarers with a CBA (in addition to a POEA contract). Is it the NLRC (National Labor Relations Commission) or the voluntary arbitrators. The NLRC is composed of Labor Arbiters and claims jurisdiction based on the Migrant Workers Act, whereas, the voluntary arbitrators claim jurisdiction based on the Labor Code and the