DOLE pushes for protection, decent work for Filipino fishermen

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, March 17 (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now crafting a joint department order that would set rules and regulations on employment and working conditions of fishers employed in vessels engaged in commercial fishing.

A report from the office of DOLE 12 Regional Director Ofelia Domingo said, the proposed joint department order would “harmonize laws and regulations in giving decent work to fishermen and ease doing business with the fishing industry. It will also ensure the industry’s competitiveness , expansion and growth.”

Last week, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz visited General Santos City for a consultation dialogue with members of the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Incorporated (SFFAII),

At the said meeting Baldoz noted that the Philippine products including fish are now marketed in countries that impose high standards and we need to be on par with the international standards.

“By this time, all are already aware that the country became EU-GSP+ beneficiary on December 25, 2014 allowing us to export 6,274 products to any of the 28 members of the EU bloc at zero tariff for a period of 10 years.

“The tuna industry here in General Santos City, being host to six of the country’s seven tuna canneries and home to big tuna fishing companies, is one big beneficiary of the European Union Generalized scheme of preferences EU-GSP+ .

“With this, we need to elevate our compliance with Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Standards and focus on the needs of our fishermen,” Secretary Baldoz said.

She added that with the accession, Philippine companies should open itself up to closer scrutiny for compliance with labor laws and international labor rights instruments.

“The Philippine Embassy in Belgium has informed us that EU Commission has reportedly drawn out the scoreboard for the Philippines compliance. Of particular concern is the lingering allegation of Citra Mina’s systematic violation of the rights of its workers who only sought to organize themselves to ask for better working conditions,” she noted.

“Additionally, reports on Filipino fishermen languishing in Indonesian jails including the recently repatriated 43, has already been noted along with the issue of child labor and forced labor in the fishing industry,” she added

There is a view, she said further, that Citra Mina could just be a reflection of widespread practice of tuna fishing companies and canneries in General Santos City of not letting their workers organize, of exploitative practices in hand-line fishing, in use of schemes to blur employer-employee relationship, debt bondage, use of child labor and non-compliance with the country’s labor laws particularly, OSH standards in fishing vessels while at the high seas.

“Fishing, particularly deep-sea fishing, is hazardous work and fishermen are exposed to peculiar and perilous conditions and unpredictable hazards.”

Baldoz emphasized that everyone should work together to promote observance of labor standards and protection to fishers to at least narrow the decent work deficits in the industry.

“We recognize that the fishing industry has its peculiarities and that some rules and regulations or practices applied to land-based industries could be inappropriate or impractical for the fishing industry.

“It is in this light that a MOA was entered into between and among DOLE, DA, DOTC, MARINA, BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources), PFDA (Phil. Fisheries Development Authority) and the Phil. Coast Guard in recognition of the need to harmonize government interventions at the operational, program and policy levels,” the secretary said.

On behalf of SFFAII, Executive Director Rosanna Contreras said that they welcome the proposed joint department order.

“We just hope that the department order will be thoroughly studied before this will be implemented. This needs further consultations with the industry,” Contreras said. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from DOLE 12)

– See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1611426551447/dole-pushes-for-protection-decent-work-for-filipino-fishermen#sthash.HFRxSDJP.dpuf