Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief

Bangkok – A new regional survey reveals widespread labor abuses affecting migrant workers in Asia’s vital fishing and seafood processing industries. The report, released by the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlights persistent challenges including excessive recruitment costs, wage theft, and alarming rates of forced labor, prompting calls for urgent action to improve protections and enforce international labor standards.

The study, titled “Towards fair seas: Recruitment and working conditions for migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing sectors in South-East Asia,” provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of the conditions faced by workers originating from Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Viet Nam, and working in destinations like China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), and Thailand. The findings underscore a critical require for coordinated efforts from governments, employers, and workers to address systemic weaknesses in labor and migration governance.

The ILO estimates that approximately 13 percent of migrant workers in these sectors are experiencing conditions of forced labor, with those working as fishers facing a significantly higher risk – around 20 percent – compared to those in seafood processing facilities (0.4 percent). This disparity points to the particularly vulnerable conditions on distant water tuna fishing vessels, where extended periods at sea and remote locations limit oversight and increase the potential for exploitation. The report emphasizes the urgent need to ratify and implement international labor standards on recruitment, work in fishing, and forced labor to safeguard these workers’ rights.

Vulnerability at Sea: The Risks Faced by Fishers

The survey draws particular attention to the dangers faced by fishers, who often endure long working hours, inadequate safety measures, and limited access to legal recourse. The remote nature of their work, often far from shore, creates an environment where coercive labor practices can flourish. These practices include debt bondage, retention of identification documents, and even physical violence. The ILO’s work in this area is part of the broader ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, which supports work in 36 member countries.

Seafood Processing: Challenges for Women Workers

Although conditions in seafood processing plants are generally better than on fishing vessels, the report notes that significant improvements are still needed, especially for women migrant workers. These workers frequently occupy low-paid, precarious, and informalized roles, facing gender-based discrimination, wage gaps, and inadequate provisions for maternity protection and childcare. The report highlights the need for targeted interventions to address these specific vulnerabilities and ensure equal opportunities for women in the seafood supply chain.

The findings reveal widespread gaps in decent work, including excessive recruitment costs, inadequate wage protection, long working hours, serious occupational injuries, barriers to freedom of association, and limited access to social protection. These issues contribute to a cycle of vulnerability that leaves migrant workers susceptible to exploitation and abuse.

The Ship to Shore Rights Initiative

Recognizing the scale of these challenges, the International Labour Organization, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, has launched the Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia initiative. Funded by the European Union, this program aims to promote safe migration and decent work in the fishing and seafood sectors, addressing vulnerabilities and supporting sustainable, rights-based labor practices throughout the blue economy. The initiative is part of a five-year project, running from March 2024 to February 2029, funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), with a budget of CAD 6.99 million, as outlined in a baseline survey.

The report stresses that coordinated action by governments, employers, and workers is essential to address the structural weaknesses in labor and migration governance and to ensure accountability across the entire supply chain. This includes strengthening enforcement of labor laws, promoting freedom of association, and ensuring access to justice for migrant workers.

Fishing and seafood processing remain critical sources of livelihood along Asia’s coastlines, with the region accounting for the majority of global fisheries and aquaculture employment. Addressing the challenges faced by migrant workers in these sectors is not only a matter of human rights but also essential for ensuring the sustainability and long-term viability of these vital industries.

Looking ahead, the focus will be on translating the findings of this survey into concrete policy changes and practical interventions. The ILO, along with its partners, will continue to work with governments and stakeholders to promote safe migration, decent work, and the protection of the rights of migrant workers in Asia’s fishing and seafood industries. Further research and monitoring will be crucial to track progress and identify emerging challenges.

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