Greenpeace Accuses Taiwanese Fishing Vessels of Forced Labor, Urges Legal Reforms

TAIPEI: Greenpeace has called on Taiwan's Cabinet to ratify an international convention focused on protecting the rights of fishers, following the release of a report alleging forced labor on 12 Taiwanese fishing vessels. The environmental organization highlighted the urgent need for legislative action at a press conference, detailing abuses reportedly faced by Indonesian fishermen between 2019 and 2024. According to Focus Taiwan, the report, titled "Netting Profits, Risking Lives - The Unresolved Human and Environmental Exploitation at Sea," was published by Greenpeace's Southeast Asia branch. It includes testimonies from Indonesian fishers who reported forced labor practices, recognized by the International Labor Organization (ILO), such as detention, retention of identity documents, and debt bondage. Fishers described grueling 21-hour workdays, consumption of expired or rotten food, and lack of medical care, which led to severe health consequences, including permanent vision loss for one worker. The repo rt further implicated Taiwanese tuna trader FCF, noting that its vessel, Shin Lian Fa No. 168, had left three Indonesian fishers stranded in Mauritius for two years. The report also alleged illegal fishing activities, including shark finning, by six of the 12 vessels. Greenpeace Taiwan urged the immediate establishment of regulations in line with the ILO's Work in Fishing Convention, which aims to ensure decent working and living conditions for fishers globally. The Fisheries Agency of Taiwan has indicated that it is in the process of drafting relevant legislation and plans to investigate the alleged violations. The agency highlighted recent efforts to improve working conditions, including legal amendments in 2022 and increased labor inspections. The Ministry of Agriculture's Fisheries Agency stated that disputes concerning Shin Lian Fa No. 168 have been resolved with the Indonesian government. It also emphasized ongoing initiatives to enhance human rights in the fishing industry as part of Taiwan's "Action Plan for Fisheries and Human Rights."