Taiwan migrant fishers union calls for better working conditions in tuna supply chain

台灣移工漁民工會呼籲改善鮪魚供應鏈勞動條件

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A labor union representing Indonesian migrant fishers has called on StarKist to improve working conditions on Taiwan-flagged vessels supplying tuna to the US seafood brand.

The Forum Silaturahmi Pelaut Indonesia–Pingtung Migrant Fishers Union (FOSPI-PMFU) and its allies launched a global campaign Thursday calling on StarKist to negotiate a binding agreement over working conditions and guarantee five fundamental rights for migrant fishers. These include the rights to communicate via guaranteed access to Wi-Fi on fishing vessels and to a transparent and fair grievance mechanism, according to a press release.

As part of the campaign, Global Labor Justice published a report documenting three years of forced labor conditions in StarKist’s Pacific albacore tuna supply chain.

“Fishers in StarKist’s supply chain can spend months at sea isolated without independent access to Wi-Fi or other means of external communication, effectively turning vessels into ‘union-free zones’ where workers cannot contact unions, report abuses, seek help, or exercise freedom of association,” the report said.

The other demands include the right to a healthy and safe workplace, fair wages and employment contracts, and the right to organize a union without intimidation or retaliation.

Taiwan’s distant-water fishing industry has long faced criticism over the treatment of migrant workers, who are largely excluded from local labor protections. Since 2020, the US Department of Labor has flagged the industry for indicators of forced labor, citing issues including excessive working hours and deceptive recruitment, per CNN.

The campaign focuses on StarKist but highlights the prevalence of forced labor across the tuna supply chain, according to the press statement.

FOSPI-PMFU General Secretary Achmed Mudzakir was quoted as saying in the press release, “When (workers) are at sea, they are often cut off from the world and have little recourse to the captain’s decisions.

“That’s why we are calling on StarKist to negotiate directly with our union for an enforceable brand agreement that we can ensure is enforced by everyone in the supply chain: StarKist, vessel owners, captains and fishers. We want StarKist to come to the bargaining table in good faith, hear our demands, and come to a fair agreement.”

“A more equitable global economy requires that multinational corporations buy from supply chains where workers have unions and labor rights at work,” said Jennifer Rosenbaum, executive director of Global Labor Justice. “Today FOSPI- PFMU sets the direction for the seafood sector to end forced labor and advance freedom of association and more dignified work for fishers.