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A new phase of the EU-funded Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia initiative in Manila aims to improve conditions for migrant workers in the fisheries and seafood sectors.
The Philippines is taking renewed steps to protect migrant workers in the fisheries and seafood supply chain, as it recently launched a new phase of the Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy programme in Manila.
The programme is a regional initiative carried out by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It aims to promote decent work and safe migration practices across Southeast Asia’s fish and seafood supply chain. These are sectors where migrant workers often face high risks of vulnerabilities, labour rights violations, and forced labour.
Funded by the European Union, the initiative aims to promote safe and fair migration, strengthen labour rights, and address the decent work challenges faced by migrant workers in the region’s blue economy, a sector that includes fishing and seafood processing.
On 4 June, key stakeholders gathered at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Central Office in Manila for the programme’s inaugural Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting. The meeting brought together representatives from government institutions, employers' and workers' organisations, civil society, and development partners to endorse the national work plan for 2025–2028 and agree on next steps.
Opening the session, Augusto San Diego III, Sea-Based Accreditation Bureau Director delivered a message on behalf of DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Pampolina. He highlighted the relevance of the programme, calling it a "timely and strategic initiative that aligns with our national priorities to protect and empower our sea-based workers".
Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines, stressed the need for inclusive dialogue and evidence-based policymaking in achieving the programme’s objectives.
"The PAC will serve as a vital mechanism for ensuring that our work is grounded in the realities of those most affected, our migrant fishers and their communities."
During the meeting, participants reviewed the outcomes of a recent national consultation workshop and officially endorsed the 2025–2028 work plan. This work plan is structured around four strategic objectives:
- Strengthening regional cooperation on labour migration, including developing ASEAN-level guidance on labour inspection
- Reinforcing national legal and policy frameworks, such as pushing for the ratification of the ILO’s Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) and regulating recruitment practices
- Promoting responsible business conduct, with technical support for manning agencies, the creation of fair recruitment guidelines, and integration of due diligence measures
- Empowering migrant workers and their communities through legal aid, financial literacy, reintegration support, and collective bargaining.
A key feature of the programme in the Philippines is the focus on technical assistance for manning agencies. This includes working closely with the Licensed Manning Agencies for Fishers, a group of recruitment agencies accredited to deploy Filipino fishers for overseas employment.
As the meeting concluded, stakeholders tentatively scheduled the next PAC session for June 2026 and reiterated their commitment to collaborative implementation.
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