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THE LIFE AND WORKS OF YOUNG FISHERMEN AND FISHER FOLKS IN MERCEDESCAMARINES NORTE

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My name is Rony, I live in Indonesia where my YCW action experience is coming from factory work and agricultural sector. Visiting the base groups of YCW Philippines, especially the young fisher folks in Mercedes, Camarines Norte is a new experience to me, though it’s my second time coming to the said province.  The area is quite dynamic where I met various informal workers such as fishermen, street fish vendors, working students, loaders and porters.

The reality of the fishermen

The situation of work in Mercedes depends mostly to the sea and its marine products. Economically speaking, fishermen’s income is relatively small and they are only able to support their families for a day to day basis. However, during off-season (August-December), where the weather is unfavorable, they have no work. Instead some of them are forced to find other alternative jobs like carpentry, driving and others in other locality.

There is no income guarantee, security and safety in the workplace of the fishermen’s. Their income solely depends on the fish they catch. Some instances becomes unfortunate when they encountering accidents and worst death.  Long working hours is also one of the nature of the job. Small fishermen starts to work from 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon and finishes at 6:00 o’clock in the morning of the next day. Some goes to fishing for 3 to 4 straight nights and days staying in the middle of the sea.

I have also visited what the local called “pandawan” or the fist port market. The fish port serves as the economic centre of the town where plenty of fishing vessels anchor here to unload and sell the marine products they’ve catch. Variety of fish, lobsters, shrimps, crabs and sea shells is being sold this market and most of them is distributed to nearby cities and town, including Metro Manila. The port comes to life from 4:00 o’clock in the morning up until 10:00 o’clock.

A young worker with full of hope


In this fish port. I met Jefferson Garsota, a new member of YCW-Philippines. He is 18 years old. His skin was tanned from the sun and his hands were thick with calluses. He worked as a porter unloading baskets of fish and wide aluminum basins from fishing boats to the fish port. He starts working from 2:00 o’clock in the morning until 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, and being ready and available to be called anytime the boat owner requires his service. Jefferson is being paid around Php 400 – Php 500 pesos (USD 8-USD 10) per day by the boat owner.

The distance from the dock to the fish port is close enough to be walked, but the pavement is uneven, rocky and the tiled stairs leading to the fish port hall are slippery. Accidents happens frequently for someone could suffer a broken leg or get wounded.

During rest time, Jefferson sleeps on the ship anchoring at the bay. He is completely orphaned and he have no house to stay, and family to take care with. Life is tough, but for Jefferson, he admitted that he already used to it. For now he cannot choose jobs what he wants, but taking it positively for what he have and making the best use of it.

Upon this interview, he is currently taking part of the initiative of YCW-Philippines in the enrolment of the out-of-school youth to the Alternative Livelihood Education and Training program in support with TESDA. With this, he hopes that by taking part in the program, he can gain enough knowledge and skills that would enable him to get a better job in the future.

The alternatives of YCW towards Informal Workers: Social Protection Campaign

Thanks to the initiative of YCW-Philippines that they have been able to register and recognize the Association of Young Fisher folks of Mercedes under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). With this, they can avail of support that the local government can offer especially for the fishermen.

Parallel to that, the IYCW continuously campaigning for “Social Protection for All” including those in the informal economy. That social protection should be innovative and adaptive enough to reach people working in the informal sector the like of fishermen in Mercedes. We call on all the states and government to invest in health and education especially for young workers to prepare them for a just work. The IYCW together with many other Trade Unions and Organizations are calling for a just transition of informal economy to the formal sector in line with the ILO Agenda for Decent Work for All.

Is Social Solidarity Economy can respond to the needs of Informal workers

With the current experiences of IYCW, Social Solidarity Economy is seen to be an alternative to youth unemployment and informalization of work. The IYCW is promoting livelihood alternatives to young people where they do organize by themselves and decide democratically, manage the resources equally and sustainably, and create products or services that provides to the community needs. Concrete examples are the Salt Mine Cooperatives of YCW-Haiti, Community Kitchen in YCW-Brazil and Community Garden in YCW-Chile. 

It is our commitment and responsibility then, to assist the Young Fisher folks Association of Mercedes and the YCW-Philippines to find an alternative livelihood to be developed into Social Solidarity Economy that is manage by, with and for the young workers, that can support the lfe and work like of Jefferson. 



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