Indonesia Strengthens Protections to Prevent Exploitation of Migrant Fishermen

RRI.CO.ID, Bangkok – Indonesia is actively strengthening protections for migrant fishermen throughout the entire migration cycle—from recruitment to safe return and reintegration—by implementing the ASEAN Guidelines on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishermen in the Fisheries Sector.

Speaking at the 29th ASEAN Labor Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM) in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Minister of Manpower Yassierli emphasized that comprehensive safeguards are essential.

He noted that these protections must cover every stage of employment, including recruitment, pre-departure preparation, working conditions on board vessels, access to legal remedies, safe return, and reintegration. To achieve this, Indonesia continues to enhance its national regulatory and institutional frameworks, particularly by improving competency standards and certification processes for fishing crews.

“At the national level, Indonesia continues to strengthen the regulatory and institutional framework for the placement and protection of migrant fishermen working on fishing vessels, including by enhancing competency standards and certification,” Yassierli said at the 29th ASEAN Labor Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM) in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

Furthermore, Minister Yassierli, highlighted Indonesia's ratification of ILO Convention No. 188 on Work in the Fishing Sector. This ratification marks a concrete step toward ensuring decent work, occupational safety and health, and fair living conditions for all fishermen.

Building on these efforts, Indonesia is prioritizing preventive measures to mitigate risks before workers leave their home countries. The ASEAN guidelines are expected to reinforce fair recruitment practices, ensure transparent labor arrangements, enable the verification of employment contracts, enforce competency standards, and provide reliable pre-departure information.

However, safeguarding migrant fishermen requires strong cross-border collaboration and improved information sharing among ASEAN member states. To support this goal, Indonesia is strengthening coordination across multiple sectors and actively exchanging views with the Philippines on crew governance.

“Implementing protections for fishermen requires strong coordination among governments, employers, workers’ organizations, civil society, and international organizations. Therefore, Indonesia is strengthening practical cooperation through an exchange of views with the Philippines regarding the governance of migrant fishing vessel crews,” he continued.

Looking ahead, Indonesia plans to evaluate existing ASEAN mechanisms by identifying coverage gaps, assessing potential risks, and highlighting areas for regional cooperation. Ultimately, this initiative aims to ensure that decent work, effective protection, and respect for human dignity remain central to the placement and employment of migrant fishermen.