Indonesian seafarers, despite being hailed for their rich maritime heritage, face dire working conditions, especially on foreign fishing vessels. As the International Maritime Organization prepares to celebrate the Day of the Seafarer on June 25, there is rising public concern in Indonesia over the exploitation of its maritime workforce. Recent incidents, including the deaths of four Indonesian sailors on the Chinese vessel Long Xin 629 and cases of human trafficking, underscore the severe risks faced by these workers.
A report from Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) revealed that between November 2019 and June this year, at least 30 Indonesian crew members suffered exploitation aboard Chinese fishing vessels. Among these, seven died, three are missing, while 20 managed to survive. Anjar Prihantoro, from the Agency for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI), indicated that despite media attention, complaints against Chinese vessels were significant, ranking fourth among complaints from various countries, trailing Taiwan, South Korea, and Peru. Notably, nearly 50% of the 411 received complaints centered around unpaid salaries, highlighting the issue of illegitimate employment practices. Complaints also included work-related accidents and anxiety over deportation.
Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah emphasized that the modern slavery faced by Indonesian seafarers is deeply rooted in a flawed recruitment system. She pointed out that the license issuance for placement agencies is prone to misuse, lacking effective monitoring and data collection. Many seafarers return from abroad without proper skill development and legal protections, leading to low wages and exploitation.
In response to these alarming conditions, the Indonesian government is under pressure to expedite the implementation of the 2017 Migrant Worker Protection Law, which aims to provide a legal framework for protecting migrant workers, including those in the fishing industry. Despite missing a legally mandated deadline for issuing regulations in November last year, there is hope for finalized drafts soon, which will potentially introduce enhanced protections during and after employment.
These drafts are expected to address persistent issues like licensing overlaps, data collection deficiencies, and inadequate coordination among governmental bodies. The upcoming bylaws aim to comprehensively tackle the problems faced by these workers, including enhancing their qualifications and supervision.
Indonesian Ambassador to Norway, Todung Mulya Lubis, suggested the creation of a database for migrant worker employers to facilitate legal and human rights protections. He pointed out challenges related to the practice of “flags of convenience,” where vessels are registered in countries different from their owners, complicating jurisdictional law enforcement.
Overall, while Indonesia celebrates its seafaring legacy, urgent reforms and enhanced protections are necessary to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of its seafarers, who continue to face significant exploitation and peril in foreign waters.
Source link
