Indonesia examines labour inspection in fishing

JAKARTA (ILO News): Recent years have seen both fishing itself and the market for capture fishery becoming increasingly globalized. Technology in the fishing industry has been changing rapidly as well, often transforming the way that fishing is carried out. Difficult working conditions are common in fishing, regardless of the type of commercial fishing operation.

Fishing involves long hours and strenuous activity in an often challenging marine environment. Relationships between employers (often fishing-vessel owners) and fishers in the fishing sector are also diverse, from casual basis to more formal arrangements.

To improve the role of labour inspection in fishing, the ILO in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower conducted a Coordination Meeting on Work in Fishing from 17-18 September in Jakarta.

The meeting was aimed to share the information among responsible government agencies on their roles as inspectors in fishing sector based on the draft ILO Guidelines Flag State Inspection on Work on Fishing. The meeting was also aimed to review and analyse the existing labour laws and regulations related to fishing sector and shared information on each government agencies’ roles and duties in implementing such laws and regulations.

“In Indonesia, ensuring decent working conditions in the fishing and maritime sector has become a priority of the new government. Fishing and maritime has an important strategic role in national economic development, especially for improving job opportunities, income equality, and living conditions,” said Mudji Handaya, Director General of Labour Inspection, Ministry of Manpower.

He also acknowledged that an increase in foreign and Indonesian fishermen are subjected to forced labour on Indonesian and foreign-flagged fishing vessels in Indonesian waters. “Therefore it is necessary to improve the role of labour inspection in fishing and the participation of the community to strengthen workplace compliance in the fishing sector,” he added.

The meeting was facilitated by Rene Robert, ILO’s Specialist in Labour Administration and Labour Inspection. He also presented best practices from other countries like Brazil. “The Guidelines is not intended to override the national law. It is aimed to help the government structuring corrective measures, coordination and procedures and so forth such as the experience of Brazil in managing its labour migration,” he said.

The workshop was followed with gaps identification and analysis on existing laws, coordination among relevant government ministries and inspection. The analysis could be seen as the first step towards ratification of the Convention No.188. It consists of a detailed legal analysis of those provisions of national laws, regulations or other measures that are intended to give effect to the provisions of Convention No. 188.

The meeting was attended not only by government institutions but also by the workers’ and employers’ organizations in the fishing sector.