As the country observes the National Month of Farmers and Fisherfolk this May 2026, attention turns to General Santos City - the Tuna Capital of the Philippines – and the workers who sustain one of the country’s most important export industries.

While the Philippine tuna industry continues to drive economic growth and global trade, questions remain on how to ensure that the sector’s success is anchored on safety, dignity, and protection of its fisherfolks.  

The tuna industry remains an important sector of the Philippine economy, supporting nearly 200,000 workers in General Santos City alone. However, a 2023 study by the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) titled “Exploring Innovative Approaches to Address Labor Exploitation in the Fishery Supply Chain: The Case of the Tuna Industry in the Philippines” revealed many fisherfolk remain vulnerable to poor working conditions, including excessive working hours, lack of social protection, and occupational safety hazards.   

As global markets increasingly demand ethically sourced and socially responsible products, the study emphasizes that worker protection is no longer separate from economic competitiveness - it is central to sustaining the Philippine tuna industry’s position in the global market. A competitive tuna industry begins with protected fisherfolk. 

The study highlights that while the Philippines has established policies promoting decent working conditions, enforcing labor standards for work at sea remains a significant challenge due to the nature of maritime work and the complexity of the fishery supply chain.  

In response, local initiatives in General Santos City have strengthened monitoring and compliance mechanisms and worker protection mechanisms within the industry. Among is the establishment of a local government-led Occupational Safety and Health Council. By requiring vessels to secure safety certifications before operating in open waters, the initiative seeks to ensure safer working conditions for fisherfolk while supporting compliance with international market standards. In a physically demanding and high-risk industry such as commercial fishing, worker safety is directly linked to long-term productivity and sustainability.  

Beyond local OSH initiatives, the study points to the need for stronger “market-driven compliance” mechanisms, where export-oriented companies adopt social accountability audits and due diligence systems to monitor and uphold the workers welfare throughout the fishery supply chain. The study also underscores the importance of technological interventions, such as vessel monitoring systems that can help improve emergency response, traceability and accountability at sea.  

Equally important are strengthened partnerships among government, the private sector, and civil society organizations to provide rescue assistance, psychosocial support, and community-based interventions for fisherfolk facing exploitation and unsafe working conditions. Furthermore, the study advocates for greater fisherfolk representation in local policymaking and Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Councils (FARMCs), ensuring that workers themselves have a voice in shaping policies that directly affect their livelihoods. 

Call to Action: Uniting for a Fairer and Stronger Blue Economy 

The future of the Philippine tuna industry depends on the collective efforts of the government, private sector, and civil society to improve the working conditions in the blue economy. The path forward requires sustained efforts in labor monitoring, inclusive social dialogue, and the adoption of technologies that reduces workers’ vulnerability to harm and exploitation. This National Month of Farmers and Fisherfolk, the ILS calls for stronger action to ensure that Filipino fisherfolk are not merely surviving the harsh realities of the sea, but are recognized as protected and empowered partners in our country’s economic growth.  
 
Read the full research paper at https://ils.dole.gov.ph/2023-research-papers/exploring-innovative-approaches-to-address-labor-exploitation-in-the-fishery-supply-chain-the-case-of-the-tuna-industry-in-the-philippines 

For more information, visit the official ILS website at https://ils.dole.gov.ph 

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