The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), launched the report Lost in Transit: Philippines Migrant Fishers in the United Kingdom Fishing Industry at the DMW-NMP Maritime Research, Education, and Training (MRET) Summit on 25-26 September in Manila.
Produced under the EU-funded Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia programme, the report exposes how transit visas create gaps that leave Filipino fishers in the UK vulnerable to exploitation, forced labour, and exclusion from protections.
The MRET Summit convened government, civil society, trade unions, industry, and international partners to discuss broader maritime challenges, including digitalization and environmental regulations. It provided ILO a platform to advance the report's policy recommendations such as stronger UK-Philippines cooperation, harmonized contracts, and ratification of key ILO conventions like the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188).
"This report sheds light on the hidden realities faced by Filipino migrant fishers in the UK. It is a call to action for governments, employers, and recruitment agencies to ensure that migration governance is rooted in fairness, dignity, and international labour standards," said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines. "We must work together to close legal loopholes and create pathways to decent work at sea" he emphasized.
In his keynote message, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac added, "We are committed to ensuring decent work, fair wages, and safe workplaces for all Filipinos in the maritime industry. We recognize the need to align our efforts with international standards. That's why the DMW is currently developing a standard contract for Filipino seafarers, including a specific contract for Filipino migrant fishers-one that promotes fairness and protects their rights."
Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy is a regional initiative funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the ILO in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The programme aims to promote safe migration and decent work in the fish and seafood supply chain across South-East Asia, addressing vulnerabilities and risks that can lead to labour rights abuses and forced labour.
