The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the welfare and skills development of Filipino workers, particularly those in the aquaculture sector, as it participated in the first National Industry Dialogue on Sustainable Aquaculture Supply Chains held in Makati City.

Organized by the International Labor Organization with support from the government of Japan, the event brought together workers, employers, and policymakers to address labor challenges, identify strategies to improve workers’ welfare and skills, and strengthen one of the country’s key livelihood and economic sectors.

In his keynote address, Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma echoed the administration’s call to intensify efforts toward a more resilient, strengthened, and sustainable Philippine aquaculture industry.

“I consider this national dialogue as a successful culmination of a joint endeavor to gain and share new knowledge of the aquaculture sector, particularly in shrimp and seaweed farming. At the same time, it is a hopeful step forward to uplift the sector,” Laguesma said.

“Here, we have the opportunity to uplift the sector and to exchange ideas on how the research outputs will help lead to more informed decisions on what interventions can be done to make the workers and enterprises in the sector more productive and to progressively align the sector’s working conditions with the fundamental principles and rights at work,” he added.

Laguesma also affirmed that DoLE continues to pursue programs that empower aquaculture workers and enterprises, such as the DoLE Adjustment Measures Program, emergency employment and livelihood initiatives, upskilling and training in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and efforts to eliminate child labor.