January 25, 2017 — JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia on Tuesday issued a new government decree requiring human rights certification for fishing boats operating in the country, in order to stamp out abuse and exploitation of workers in the fisheries industry.
“The ministerial regulation creates the certification mechanism to ensure the fishing industry here will be free of human rights violations,” Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said at a press conference.
The decree, which comes almost two years after media reports first revealed brutal conditions aboard many foreign vessels reflagged to operate in Indonesian waters, requires all companies in the fisheries sector to submit a detailed human rights audit to ensure the well-being of fishermen and port workers.
All fishery companies are henceforth required to have an adequate insurance scheme, a standard minimum wage and clear working hours for their fishermen and port workers.