Calls grow for PH to adopt fishing labor rules

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By Mariela Angella Oladive

Calls are growing for the Philippines to adopt global labor standards for the fishing industry as migrant fishers, environment and labor groups urged the government to ratify the International Labour Organization Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (ILO C188), during the Regional Forum of Migrant Fishers 2025 on Nov. 21 in Iloilo City.

The event, themed “Safeguarding Filipino Migrant Fishers from Forced Labor, and Campaigning for the Ratification of ILO C188 (Work in Fishing Convention),” coincided with the global observance of World Fisheries Day.

The forum gathered migrant fishers from Western Visayas, local government officials, and sectoral organizations to address long-standing policy gaps affecting Filipinos deployed to foreign fishing vessels.

Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) campaigner Angel Marie Ysik said the forum aimed to raise awareness of the harsh realities faced by Filipino fishers working on the high seas.

She said many Filipino fishers remain vulnerable to forced labor and trafficking as dangerous and exploitative conditions have long been normalized in the global fishing industry.

“Our migrant fishers experience overwork, long hours, delayed or even unpaid wages, and also a lack of protection,” she told Daily Guardian.

She added that these conditions are often treated as normal despite the profitability of the fishing sector, which she said relies heavily on the difficult labor of Filipino crews and unregulated fishing.

Ysik said Western Visayas was selected as the venue because support systems for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are already institutionalized in the region, helping strengthen the push for national reforms.

She emphasized the urgency of ratifying ILO C188, which sets international standards for decent work, fair recruitment, safety, and social protection for fishers.

“It is not yet ratified in the Philippines, but we are the second-largest migrant fishing workforce next to Indonesia, with an estimated more than 8,000 deployments per year,” she said.

She added that Filipino fishers contribute significantly to global seafood supply chains yet struggle to meet their own families’ needs.

Key discussions during the forum centered on finalizing a 10-point agenda for migrant fishers, consolidating proposals from fisher groups, advocates, and partner organizations.

Several workers also spoke during the event to recount experiences of unpaid wages, hunger, and abuse aboard distant-water fleets.

Julyus, a fisherman from Concepcion, said he endured months without pay and abandonment by his captain.

“My salary was supposed to come monthly, but I did not receive it… We went there with hope for our family, but we were welcomed with regrets,” he said.

Another fisherman said he witnessed a crew member die onboard and claimed the vessel’s engineer attempted to discard the body at sea.

He said he also went a full year without receiving his salary.

Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda delivered the keynote message and expressed support for stronger protections for Filipino fishers, including the ratification of ILO C188 and the passage of House Resolution No. 133.

“We need transparency, safer conditions, fair contracts, and stronger action against labor abuses,” she said in a statement.

She said she committed to co-authoring House Resolution No. 133 to help ensure fishers receive fair treatment, safety, dignity, and justice.

The forum was organized by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and the Associated Philippine Seafarers Union, in collaboration with the Western Visayas Migrant Workers Network and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region VI.