Donggang, Taiwan- On January 29, FOSPI-PMFU (Indonesian Seafarers’ Gathering Forum - Pingtun Migrant Fishers Union) gathered a thousand migrant fishers, allies, and government representatives at Zhenhai Park in Donggang to celebrate its 18-year anniversary as a community and third anniversary as a labor union organizing migrant fishers from across Indonesia working in Taiwan’s seafood sector. At the event, FOSPI-PMFU escalated its fight for fishers’ rights in the world’s most dangerous industry by calling on employers, buyers, and governments to protect the rights of workers. FOSPI-PMFU is directly challenging the powerful seafood industry to improve working conditions for the fishers who generate its profits by guaranteeing fishers’ access to Wi-Fi on distant water fishing vessels to ensure fishers can access their fundamental labor rights and timely medical assistance in case of accidents and illness.
“Fishing remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Our members regularly report about catastrophic accidents, dangerous working conditions, lack of access to medical care, insufficient food and water, unpaid wages, and excessive working hours with climate change; these risks will only increase. But together, we can improve our welfare and safety and prevent accidents at sea by organizing, strengthening our union, and amplifying our voices,” said Mudzakir, Chair of the FOSPI-PMFU, Indonesian Seafarers’ Gathering Forum - Pingtun Migrant Fishers Union.
The plight of migrant fishers in Taiwan has garnered attention due to numerous reports highlighting the horrific working conditions faced by migrant fishers. These conditions include severe injuries, such as lost fingers and limbs, a lack of access to safe drinking water and food, forced labor, wage theft, and being compelled to remain on vessels during recent typhoons. Additionally, many fishers experience isolation and a lack of communication, which allows for violations of their rights.
FOSPI and allies in the Wi-Fi for Fishers Rights Campaign, Taiwan Association of Human Rights (TAHR), Stella Maris, Serve the People Association (SPA), U.S. based Global Labor Justice (GLJ), and recently Pacific-Asia Resource Center (PARC) from Japan have mounted a robust public local and international campaign over the past two years. Civil society organizations from the Wi-Fi for Fishers Rights Campaign will celebrate FOSPI-PMFU's three-year anniversary while advocating for fishers' rights to health, safety, and Wi-Fi communication at sea.
FOSPI began 18 years ago when migrant fishers sought to establish a mosque at Donggang Port, and offer mutual support for Indonesian workers in Taiwan's fishing industry. Since the mosque opened in 2018, FOSPI has expanded its focus to advocate for the labor rights of migrant fishers.
In 2021, FOSPI officially registered a labor union named PMFU to officially represent the migrant fishers in securing fundamental labor rights at sea.
“In the beginning, we focused on advocating for individual fishers, one case at a time, with support from Stella Maris and other allies. We organized donations, mediated with brokers and vessel owners, and established communication channels with the government to report grievances. We provided shelter, facilitated repatriation, and advocated for unpaid fishers to stay in Taiwan until they were paid. Through these efforts, we learned that addressing one problem at a time was not enough. We needed to fight for systemic changes. ” said Mudzakir, Chair of the FOSPI-PMFU, Indonesian Seafarers’ Gathering Forum - Pingtun Migrant Fishers Union.
The Wi-Fi Now For Fishers’ Rights Campaign is made up of U.S., Taiwanese and Indonesian allies, including the Indonesian Seafarers Gathering Forum, or Forum Silaturahmi Pelaut Indonesia (FOSPI), Global Labor Justice (GLJ), Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR), Stella Maris Kaohsiung, Serve the People Association (SPA), and Pacific-Asia Resource Center (PARC) from Japan.
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