The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6, in coordination with the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC), has stepped up efforts to overhaul outdated labor policies in the commercial fishing sector through a high-level consultation held here recently. The forum centered on proposed amendments to Department Order No. 156-16, which sets the rules on the working and living conditions of fishers onboard commercial fishing vessels. It brought together stakeholders from fishing companies, labor unions, and national agencies to address chronic labor issues — including poor safety practices, vague wage policies, and inconsistent enforcement of labor standards.

Improved work conditions for commercial fishers pushed: Wage fairness, safety reforms tackled in major Iloilo forum. (2025, June 14-15). Panay News, pp. 5, 15.