Lack of access to information on migration has made migrant fishers vulnerable to exploitation. The ILO’s 8.7 Accelerator Lab programme and the Indonesian Migrant Worker Union (SBMI) have set up a Migrant Worker Resource Centre (MRC) to better protect Indonesian migrant fishers.
Being part of a fishing boat crew was always the dream of Sefriansah, 23 years old. When graduating from the Commercial Shipping Vocational School, he immediately looked for a job. “I dreamed of working at sea in the machine section. I was inspired by my father who worked on fishing boats and even once owned a fishing boat,” said Sefriansah.
Six months after graduating he received information from his junior classmate who already worked on a fishing boat about a job vacancy. He was introduced to a job broker who helped him with all the documents needed to work at sea.
From Banyuwangi City, East Java, where he lived, he went to Tegal City, Central Java—taking a journey of more than 750 kilometres. His broker left him to a manning agency. He stayed at the company’s accommodation for 3 to 4 months where he occasionally had to take a physical training in the morning and had a quick briefing about basic safety and the vessel in the afternoon.
In September 2019, together with other five new boat crews, he was flown to Fiji, an island country in the Pacific Ocean, via Australia to a long line ship with a Chinese flag. He was informed that his working contract was 2 years with a salary of USD320 per month. However, he had to pay a 2-year deposit of USD2,400 through monthly salary deduction of USD100.
When arriving in Fiji, the first two days he was sent to work as a dockworker for other ships. “On the third day, I was told that I would work with nine other crew members of whom three are Indonesians in the long line ship.”
Commenting on the case, Muhamad Nour, National Coordinator for ILO’s 8.7 Accelerator Lab programme in Indonesia , explained that in order to provide better protection for migrant fishers like Sefriansah, the ILO has supported SBMI to establish a Migrant Worker Resource Centre (MRC) in Pemalang district, Central Java, which is known for having a large number of fishers going abroad and is the headquarters of most private recruitment and manning agencies.
“Through the MRC, we can work together to ensure that there will be no cases like Sefriansah’s. All migrant fishers will have adequate information about their labour rights, challenges they face, indicators of forced labour, contacts if they need help and other services that include legal case assistance,” explained Nour.
He added that the MRC involves the participation of local authorities at all levels, including at the district and village levels. “We also collaborate with SBMI to strengthen the role and function of MRC that also includes the empowerment of the families of migrant workers.”