The Ministry of Agriculture invests 1.03 billion yuan in the second phase of the Fisheries and Human Rights Action Plan

The Ministry of Agriculture invested 1.03 billion yuan to continue to improve human rights protection in fisheries. (File photo)

The Political Yuan approved the second phase of the "Fisheries and Human Rights Action Plan" proposed by the Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture. It is expected to invest 1.03 billion yuan to continue to respond to international expectations for my country's fishery labor rights. The Ministry of Agriculture stated that the focus of the second phase of the plan includes the wage advance mechanism for foreign fishermen on distant-water fishing vessels that will be implemented in the middle of this year. It will also cooperate with Indonesia and the Philippines, the largest source countries of foreign fishermen, to directly recruit and dispatch.

my country's major consumer markets for distant-water fisheries, such as Europe and the United States, are concerned about the labor rights of foreign fishermen on Taiwan's distant-water fishing vessels. In response to the international action plan to promote fisheries and human rights, the Fisheries Department stated that among the key points of the first phase of the plan implemented in the past four years, more than 50% of distant-water fishing vessels have been inspected every year, and video systems have been installed on all distant-water fishing vessels, and additional crew members have been added. Toilet and rest facilities, etc., in addition to continuing the previous phase, the second phase of the project also reduces the risk of fishermen being owed wages through a wage advance compensation mechanism for foreign fishermen. Currently, seven ocean-going fishing associations have joined. As of August, a total of 867 fishing vessels have joined the wage advance compensation mechanism. It also promotes the use of wireless networks and remote medical services for crew members.

In addition, in order to make the cost of hiring foreign fishermen more transparent for operators, the Fisheries Department also plans to promote direct recruitment and labor dispatch mechanisms. Xue Boyuan, leader of the Fisheries Department, explained that it has currently cooperated with the direct recruitment center of the Ministry of Labor and will expand in the future. Therefore, it has cooperated with Indonesia, the largest source of foreign fishermen. , the Philippines and other countries are negotiating to sign a cooperation memorandum, which will include direct recruitment and the establishment of a labor dispatch mechanism, so that the recruitment of foreign fishermen can be more fair and transparent, and it will also allow seafarers and operators to better understand the rights and obligations that both parties should abide by. The cooperation memorandum is expected to be signed next year.

The Ministry of Agriculture stated that the second phase of the action plan is expected to invest 1.03 billion yuan. In addition to demonstrating Taiwan's role as a responsible fishing country, it also calls on the industry to pay more attention to the international market's emphasis on fishery labor rights and the human rights requirements for imported products. Labor rights must be included in operating costs and accelerating the adjustment of the business structure.