Jakarta – In time for this week’s high-level talks among leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) taking place in the Indonesian capital, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, along with members of Team 9 [1] reminded all member states of their commitment to champion migrant fishers’ rights as they meet to refine the guidelines to implement the ASEAN Declaration on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers, adopted in May.

“The ASEAN Declaration on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers is an important first step towards eradicating forced labour and human rights abuses in the fishing industry, but the declaration needs to be actualised in order to make a difference,” said Arifsyah Nasution, Senior Oceans Campaign Strategist for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “Together with Team 9, we want ASEAN to move the discussion forward and provide us with more concrete guidelines and set measures to end modern slavery at sea.”

Team 9 recently organized a workshop with stakeholders during the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) [2] in Jakarta entitled “ASEAN Matters: Joint Efforts in Protecting Marine and Fisheries Sustainability Through Enhancing Workers Protection”. The results of the workshop were consolidated into a list of recommendations and sent to the ASEAN Summit committee for discussion, consideration, and action by ASEAN leaders.

Prior to the ACSC/APF workshop, Team 9 held a meeting on August 30 with Rodora Babaran, Director of the ASEAN Secretariat’s Human Development Directorate. The meeting highlighted the status of the guidelines and how civil society and non-government organisations can contribute and support the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration to protect migrant fishers and deter labour abuse and other human rights violations.

Babaran assured the group that with the ASEAN declaration, member states have already cemented their commitments. “We are in the right direction. The development of the guidelines is currently in the preliminary stage and we can expect it to be released next year,” she said.

Greenpeace and Team 9 also reiterated calls for ASEAN member states to ratify and implement the International Labour Organization (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention No. 188, or C-188–the most comprehensive international instrument concerning the working conditions and labor rights of fishers. So far, only Thailand has ratified it.

“Economic development is meaningless if we fail to protect people. Human rights protections are essential to build a stronger regional economy and we need member states to adopt C-188 to promote a safer working environment,” said Hariyanto Suwarno, Chairman of the Indonesian Workers Union (SBMI). 

“It is my dream and my hope that all ASEAN member states ratify C-188 and work together for fishers’ protection,” said Syofyan, Coordinator of Team 9 and Chairman of the Indonesian Transportation Ship Crew Union (SAKTI).

Team 9 recently released a report titled “Roadmap Recommendations for the Ratification of Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (C-188)”. The report contains nine recommendations for the Indonesian government to accelerate the deliberation of a roadmap to ratify the convention. The report has been delivered to the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and some local administrations.

In 2021, 24 other CSOs submitted to the ASEAN Secretariat another report, “Briefing Paper on Ratifying and Implementing ILO Convention 188 in ASEAN Member States”. 

NOTES:

[1] Team 9 is an informal-special team tasked to accelerate the ratification of the ILO C-188 in Indonesia. Members of the team joined informally–not officially representing their institutions/organisations. These include members of the Indonesian Transportation Crew Union (SAKTI), the Indonesian Seafarers and Fisheries Workers Union (KP3I), the Indonesia Ship Manning Agents Association (ISMAA), the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), the United Indonesian fishers Union of North Sulawesi (SAKTI SULUT), the Indonesian Fishermen’s Union (SNI), Rumoh Transparansi, and the People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA). The team is supported by Greenpeace Southeast Asia, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) and the HRWG as the secretariat team.

[2] ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples Forum (ACSC/APF) is a forum held and arranged by civil society organisations in Southeast Asia to discuss and address important regional issues. Results from the conference are submitted to the ASEAN Summit committee as recommendation for discussion, consideration, and action by ASEAN leaders.

Team 9-ASEAN meeting photos can be downloaded here

Group photo caption (L-R): Carl Rookie and Mega Irena from ASEAN Human Development Directorate, Arifsyah Nasution from Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Rodora Babaran from ASEAN Human Development Directorate, Leonard Simanjuntak from Greenpeace, Dessy Palupi from Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Syofyan from Team 9/Indonesian Transportation Crew Union (SAKTI), Anastasia Kriestella from Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and Hariyanto Suwarno from Team 9/Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI).

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Arifsyah Nasution, GPSEA Beyond Seafood Global Lead
+62 811-1400-350, [email protected] 

Vela Andapita, GPSEA Beyond Seafood Digital Communications Coordinator 
+62 817 575 9449, [email protected]