Seabound - The Journey to Modern Slavery on the High Seas
Greenpeace reveals a shady recruitment system that traps migrant fishers in conditions of forced labor, and the rising number of victims in Thailand raises concerns over care.
For several years now, international media has shone a spotlight on the inhumane working conditions of migrant fishers from Southeast Asia. The vessels they work on reportedly use destructive, illegal, and unreported methods, which take a heavy toll on the health and viability of already fragile oceans.
In a recent report, Greenpeace Southeast Asia warns that forced labor, mistreatment, and rampant human rights abuses were common themes in 34 complaints of Indonesian migrant fishers against distant water fishing vessels registered in China, Taiwan, Vanuatu, and Fiji.
Four main complaints have been identified: deception involving 11 foreign fishing vessels; withholding of wages involving nine foreign fishing vessels; excessive overtime involving eight foreign fishing vessels; and physical and sexual abuse involving seven foreign fishing vessels.
In Indonesia, the story generally begins with a manning agency recruiting migrant fishers. Workers have to pay guarantee deposits to foreign brokers and processing fees to Indonesian manning agencies for the first six to eight months of their 24-month contract – often, a third of their salary is deducted to pay for debts incurred in the recruitment process. The same is true in the Philippines, where Filipinos end up as victims of false recruitment, or in debt.
Dwindling fish populations are forcing vessels to seek fish further and further out to sea, which results in higher operating costs and increases the possibility of violation and exploitation of migrant fishers.
As a result of the learnings outlined in the report, Greenpeace Southeast Asia calls for the enforcement of national laws protecting migrant fishermen rights – and for the creation of new legislation where none currently exists.
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