An in-depth study into labor practices across the Philippines’ tuna supply chain, exposing risks of forced labor and human trafficking at sea and onshore.
This report explores the presence of forced labor indicators within the Philippines’ tuna industry—from commercial fleets to small-scale fishing communities. Drawing on interviews with workers, recruiters, and industry experts, it identifies exploitative recruitment fees, deception, debt bondage, and harsh working conditions that make seafarers vulnerable to abuse. It also details how weak oversight, informal labor networks, and poverty intersect to sustain these risks. The findings shed light on how systemic issues in recruitment and labor practices contribute to forced labor across the seafood export chain.
Tuna, Philippines
