A report by the International Labour Organisation reveals that 20 per cent of migrant fishermen work in exploitative conditions. The fishing industry, which is worth billions of dollars, relies heavily on foreign labour. Shifts of up to 20 hours a day, ID papers withheld, and debt to pay for recruitment costs are commonplace.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Approximately one in five workers in Southeast Asia’s fishing industry is exposed to conditions comparable to forced labour, this according to a report published yesterday by the International Labour Organisation.

The study, titled Towards Fair Seas, is based on interviews with 1,262 migrant workers employed in fishing and fish processing. It documents how thousands of fishermen, mostly migrants, are still trapped in systems of exploitation, debt, and coercion in the region's fishing industry.

A de facto institutionalised system creates an environment in which labour abuses can thrive with relative impunity, fostered by geographic isolation, legal fragmentation between states, the presence of intermediaries in worker recruitment, and migrants’ economic dependence.

According to the findings, one in six workers or 13 per cent reported situations of coercion and threats, especially when they want to quit their job. This jumps for the sea fishing sector where 20 per cent of migrant fishermen report conditions that meet the definition of forced labour, compared to just 0.4 per cent in the land-based fish processing sector.

The gap is also gender-based. Since fishing is an almost entirely male-dominated sector, the problem primarily affects men, approximately 19 per cent, compared to 1 per cent of women, who are primarily employed in fish processing.

The data highlight how isolation at sea, poor vessel inspections, and the very nature of the work makes fishermen particularly vulnerable.

Long periods at sea appear to be a key factor. Among fishermen who remain on board for six months or more, over 34 per cent have experienced forced labour. The percentage drops to 3 per cent for those who remain at sea for less than a month.

The size of the vessels also plays a role. Forced labour was found in 28 per cent of cases on vessels under 10 tonnes, compared to 18 per cent on vessels over 30 tonnes.

According to the report, smaller vessels, which are subject to less structured controls, represent a grey area in the supply chain.

Differences also emerge based on country of origin. Among the migrants interviewed, 30 per cent of Indonesians were employed in conditions consistent with forced labour, followed by workers from Myanmar (10 per cent), Cambodia (8 per cent), and Vietnam (1 per cent).

Destination countries also show significant variations. About 25 per cent of migrants employed in Taiwan reported indicators of forced labour; the figure drops to 9 per cent in Thailand, 5 per cent in Japan, and 2 per cent in the Republic of (South) Korea.

In China, 28 of the 51 workers interviewed reported conditions consistent with forced labour, but, according to the study's authors, such a small sample does not allow for generalisable estimates.

This situation is part of a broader “decent work deficit”. About 27 per cent of migrant workers interviewed reported suffering serious injuries requiring medical attention.

This percentage rises with the hours worked. Among those who work more than 20 hours a day, nearly 64 per cent reported an accident, while the figure drops to 20 per cent among those who work eight hours or less.

Labour abuses can include substituting contracts, withholding identity papers, or taking on debt to cover recruitment costs and delayed payments.

As in migration contexts characterised by human trafficking, the costs paid to intermediaries fuel debt bondage. Only 13 per cent of migrants changed jobs during their stay abroad, a sign of extremely limited mobility.

And among those who changed jobs, 74 per cent said they had to ask permission from their previous employer, a practice that reinforces dependency.

Access to justice is even more complicated. Among workers who reported forced labour, only 33 per cent sought assistance. The most common reasons are lack of knowledge of how to obtain help, language barriers, and fear of retaliation.

In fact, none of the interviewees reported turning for help to the authorities in their destination country.

According to the study's estimates, while 20 out of 100 migrant workers suffer serious abuse, only seven sought help, and four managed to resolve their situation. Furthermore, only 4 per cent of migrants are members of a union.

The fishing industry is strategic for the region’s economy. Out 61.8 million people employed in the sector worldwide, 52.7 million are in Asia.

In the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) alone, trade in seafood between member states and external markets is worth approximately US$ 13.7 billion annually.

With aging populations and local labour shortages, dependence on foreign workers is expected to rise, the report notes.

In Thailand alone, for example, estimates are that 90 per cent of fishermen are migrant workers, mostly from Myanmar and Cambodia.

Furthermore, vulnerability does not end at sea. Upon returning to their countries of origin, 38 per cent of workers are unable to find employment, and only 8 per cent have access to reintegration services.

Almost half (46 per cent) return home due to the expiration of their work permits, often without sufficient savings to improve their socioeconomic status.

• southeast asia
• fishing
• fish procession
• international labour organisation
• migrants
• forced labour