"(We) resolved to undertake the following actions, in accordance with the respective ASEAN member states’ national laws, regulations, and policies, to enhance the well-being and protection of the migrant fishers," they stated in a declaration adopted at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Wednesday.
Migrant fishers in the declaration refer to migrant workers employed in any capacity or carrying out an occupation on board commercial fishing vessels flying the flag of a country other than their own nationality.
The leaders recognize the importance of migrant workers and their positive contribution to the economies of ASEAN member states.
ASEAN states are among the world’s top producers and exporters of fish and seafood products, and the top origin countries of migrant fishers, it said.
"(We) are recognizing that fishing is a hard-to-reach sector and could be a hazardous occupation that aggravates the vulnerabilities of migrant fishers to the risk of decent work deficits, including but not limited to unacceptable working and living conditions on board fishing vessels, abusive recruitment practices, and inadequate labor inspection," they stated.
The leaders are considering the recommendations of the Eighth ASEAN Labour Inspection Conference and the Seventh, Eighth and Twelfth ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) for enhanced measures and dedicated resources to ensure decent work for migrant fishers and address violation of labor and human rights faced by migrant workers in fishing.
They are also further recognizing the shared responsibility of ASEAN member states to protect and fulfill the rights of migrant fishers in the entire migration cycle and to prevent and combat forced labor, child labor and trafficking in persons in fishing vessels, considering the proximity and connecting borders of ASEAN member states.
The actions taken include considering mainstreaming the protection of migrant fishers in all relevant migration policies, mechanisms, and processes of ASEAN and its member states, including with those of ASEAN’s external partners, international organizations, and other relevant international entities.
The second is the endeavor to strengthen measures, in cooperation with private entities, employers, and other partners and dedicate resources to enhance the labor conditions of migrant fishers and ensure their labor rights' protection.
The third is further endeavor to take appropriate and gender-responsive measures to identify, address, and punish all forms of violence, abuses, and exploitation against migrant fishers.
The fourth is by improving the entire migration process of migrant fishers through improvement in ethical and fair recruitment and placement; pre-employment, pre-departure and post-arrival orientations; and access to employment contract or proper documentation in the language they understand.
Fifth is to improve the protection of migrant fishers and their families left behind by ensuring their access to communications, access to information on migration policies, job risks and their rights, and right to any modes of transfer of wages and employment benefits to their families.
Sixth is by encouraging ASEAN member states to initiate or conclude bilateral agreements among each other and with countries outside the region to facilitate safe and regular migration of migrant fishers.
Seventh is by exploring cooperation among ASEAN member states on data collection and sharing on case management, recruitment, and repatriation of migrant fishers, and sharing of best practices and lessons learned in the migration process of migrant fishers.
Eighth is by promoting collaboration and partnerships for more effective law enforcement and in protecting ASEAN migrant fishers in the entire migration process.
Meanwhile, the ninth is by tasking the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM), with the support of the Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM) and other relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies and organs, as necessary, to mobilize resources for the implementation of this declaration and develop the ASEAN Guidelines on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers.
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Reporter: Katriana
Editor: Sri Haryati
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