“When migrant fishers depart from port, their Facebook status typically goes offline, indicating their imminent transition into prolonged periods of isolation—ranging from six to eight months, and in some instances, several years.”
This report employs the metaphor of “going offline” to underscore the enduring isolation migrant fishers face at sea, cut off from external communication. It articulates the perspectives of various stakeholders regarding Wi-Fi accessibility for fishers operating in offshore environments. The notion of being offline also highlights the disparity between the existing practices in Taiwan’s distant water fisheries and international human rights standards. The report starts with an analysis of the recruitment process for fishers by addressing the roles of intermediaries, pre-departure training, onboard living conditions, working hours, remuneration, safety, health, social security, and mechanisms for lodging complaints. These critical human rights concerns were identified through findings from the “Stakeholder Actions and Dialogue on Migrant Fisher Rights” initiative, carried out by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in partnership with the Organization for Migrant Fisher Rights (OMFR). Subsequent sections delve into significant topics, including labor inspections, the incorporation of ILO-C188 (Work in Fishing Convention) into domestic legislation, and the application of human rights due diligence within the seafood supply chain.
Three focused discussions and interviews with ten key informants were conducted from November 2022 to March 2023. These investigations revealed valuable insights from different stakeholders, including migrant fishers, fisheries associations, vessel owners, captains, seafood traders, labor agencies, government entities, NGOs, and representatives from migrant fishers’ countries of origin. This information constitutes the essential content of the report.
The report highlights the regulatory inconsistencies between domestically hired fishers and those hired from abroad. Unfortunately, the latter group is not afforded the protections outlined in the Labor Standards Act due to the application of different legal frameworks. A long-term policy objective should be to extend labor protections to overseas hires to ensure their rights are as closely aligned as possible with those of domestic workers. The report advocates for collaborative efforts among the government, industry, and civil society, following the principles of ILO-C188 and international human rights agreements. It concludes with nine specific recommendations aimed at enhancing human rights protections for migrant fishers and promoting dignified working conditions.