Indonesia Steps Up Protection for Fishing Vessel Crews

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 188 (C188) sets new standards for protecting fishing vessel crew members. However, its implementation is considered to require strict oversight, particularly regarding the Maritime Employment Agreement (PKL).

Founder and Chairman of Jangkar Karat Indonesia, Ari Purboyo, said PKL documents and regulations alone are insufficient without proper supervision of their implementation.

“Salaries and insurance are specified, collective agreements are in place, and procedures for resolving labor disputes are outlined,” Ari said during a discussion with the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI) in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Indonesia ratified ILO C188 through Presidential Regulation No. 25/2026. The convention sets international standards for working conditions, occupational safety and health, rest periods, wages, medical examinations, onboard living conditions, and social security for fishing vessel crew members.

More complex challenges arise for migrant seafarers because their work spans multiple jurisdictions. Ari said protection must involve the country of origin, the flag state, the port state, and the coastal state.

Ratification in Indonesia does not automatically guarantee protection if the destination country or the country where Indonesian crew members work has not ratified ILO C188. Ari therefore urged stronger bilateral cooperation to ensure protection standards remain valid for Indonesian workers.

For nearly 10 years, Jangkar Karat has handled more than 200 workplace accident cases involving Indonesian fishing crew members in South Korea, including fatal cases and cases where workers recovered. This experience underscores the importance of oversight and a clear understanding of workplace safety.

“Protecting migrant fishing crew members is not the responsibility of just one party, but a shared responsibility among several interconnected parties,” Ari said.

Following the ratification, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) issued Ministerial Regulation (Permen KP) No. 4/2026 on the Management of Fishing Vessel Crews.

The regulation covers requirements for crew members, enrollment in the Social Security Agency for Employment (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan), PKL, and placement through official mechanisms supervised by the Fisheries Harbor Master. ***