The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is pushing for the the elimination of child labor in the country’s fishing and aquaculture sectors by 2028 as part of its drive to uphold labor standards and strengthen social protection in the industry.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the department, through the National Council Against Child Labor, is coordinating with local government units and civil society partners to end the worst forms of child labor in these sectors.

“We have a target of zero child labor by 2028, and we hope our partners will help us realize that goal,” Laguesma said during the first National Industry Dialogue on Sustainable Aquaculture Supply Chains in the Philippines.

The labor chief explained that the initiative also seeks to introduce reforms in aquaculture—particularly in the shrimp and seaweed industries—which are vital to food security and have strong export potential amid growing global demand.

Based on a study by the International Labor Organization (ILO), the aquaculture sector remains largely informal, facing gaps in labor standards, occupational safety, social protection, and workers’ participation in social dialogue mechanisms.

“As a consequence, workers in the sector are exposed to high levels of vulnerability, often working under hazardous conditions with unstable incomes,” Laguesma said, noting that small enterprises also grapple with low profit margins and limited access to support facilities.

Poverty and long-held practices continue to drive child labor in fishing and aquaculture, with some parents still choosing to involve their children in work rather than send them to school.

“What we want to see are children in schools, not in factories, whether in aquaculture or any other form of employment. We only promote employment in programs where we can monitor the youth),” he said.

According to Laguesma, the number of child laborers in the sector has been declining through coordinated interventions by agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“If the child is being forced by the parent to work instead of studying, we first look at how we can help through livelihood or employment support. If the parents remain uncooperative, the DOJ steps in,” he said.

Laguesma also expressed concern over the declining interest of workers in aquaculture and related industries, saying these are often perceived as low-income and low-skill occupations.

“We need to have a different mindset for us to uplift this sector,” he added.