Indonesia has ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention, 2007, known as C188 [1].
This move establishes a legal framework to protect fishers, who often operate in high-risk environments with limited oversight. By aligning national laws with international labor standards, Indonesia seeks to eliminate exploitative practices and ensure safer working conditions across its vast maritime territory.
The ratification focuses on strengthening protections for workers in the fisheries sector [1]. This includes improving the quality of living and working conditions on board vessels, ensuring fair recruitment processes, and providing better access to healthcare for those at sea.
Beyond humanitarian goals, the government aims to increase the global competitiveness of Indonesian seafood [1]. Many international markets require strict adherence to labor standards before importing products. By adopting C188, Indonesia positions its exports to meet these rigorous requirements, potentially opening more lucrative trade routes.
Experts suggest that these labor reforms may also create positive externalities for the environment. Improved regulation and oversight of fishing vessels often lead to better tracking of activities, which can reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. This synergy between labor rights and environmental stewardship is expected to support broader conservation efforts within Indonesian waters [1].
The implementation of C188 will require the government to update existing domestic legislation to match the convention's mandates. This process involves coordinating between maritime authorities and labor inspectors to ensure that the protections are enforced on the water, and in ports.
“Indonesia has ratified the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007”
The ratification of C188 represents a strategic shift for Indonesia, linking human rights and labor standards directly to economic viability. By addressing systemic vulnerabilities in the fishing industry, the government is attempting to mitigate the risk of forced labor while simultaneously leveraging 'ethical sourcing' as a competitive advantage in the global seafood market.
