Short answer. Under Article 20 of the Labor Code, the National Seamen Board has original and exclusive jurisdiction over all matters involving Filipino seamen for overseas employment, including money claims. The Board is the proper venue, not regular courts or other labor agencies.
What the law says
The Board shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all matters or cases including money claims, involving employer-employee relations, arising out of or by virtue of any law or contracts involving Filipino seamen for overseas employment.
Labor Code, Article 20 — National Seamen Board. Read the full provision →
The National Seamen Board and its mandate
Article 20 creates the National Seamen Board as a body specifically dedicated to Filipino seamen employed overseas. It is not simply one of several labor tribunals that might have jurisdiction — it is the board designed for this category of workers. Its mandate goes beyond dispute resolution: it provides free placement services, regulates shipping company agents and representatives, and maintains a complete registry of all Filipino seamen. The jurisdiction over money claims is one part of a comprehensive program for overseas seamen.
Original and exclusive jurisdiction over money claims
The statute gives the Board original and exclusive jurisdiction over all matters or cases — expressly including money claims — involving employer-employee relations that arise out of any law or contract covering Filipino seamen for overseas employment. "Original" means the case starts there; "exclusive" means no other body can take it. Filing in a regular court or through another labor agency would be filing in the wrong forum. The claim must begin at the Board.
Appeals: from the Board to the NLRC
A decision of the National Seamen Board is not necessarily the end of the road. Article 20 provides that Board decisions are appealable to the National Labor Relations Commission, on the same grounds that apply to NLRC appeals generally. However, once the NLRC decides, that decision is final and inappealable under the same article. The chain is: Board — then NLRC — and the NLRC decision closes the administrative track.
Practical guidance for a seaman with a claim
If you are a Filipino seaman with unpaid wages, disability benefits, or other claims arising from your overseas employment contract, the National Seamen Board is where your case must begin. Gather your employment contract, any shipping company documents, records of the amounts owed, and any communications with the employer or its agent. Time limits apply to labor money claims, so acting promptly matters. A lawyer experienced in maritime labor law can help you assess the strength of your claim and navigate the Board proceedings correctly. Because the Labor Code's article numbers have since been administratively renumbered, later material may cite this same jurisdictional rule under a different number.