Seven labor unions representing thousands of migrant fishers in Indonesia and Taiwan are launching a coalition in an ongoing push for humane working conditions. 

Union leaders for fishers first petitioned Indonesian and Taiwanese authorities to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on March 1, demanding fair wages, collective bargaining agreements, access to wi-fi on boats, and a dedicated system to handle grievances without fear of retaliation. Since then, Indonesian authorities have agreed that a "dedicated arrangement" to protect migrant fishers needs to be put in place. Taiwanese leaders have not yet responded, and now, unions are forming a larger coalition to continue urging authorities to act on their demands.

“We want the Indonesian and Taiwanese authorities to develop an arrangement on migrant fishers’ protection and we want a seat at the negotiating table so we can protect the fishers who bring dinner to Taiwan’s tables,” Indonesian Transport Workers Union secretary general Syofyan Rozali said. 

A report from the Guardian in March detailed a range of abuses faced by fishers across the globe, including consistently working 12 to 18 hours a day, frequent physical abuse, unpaid wages, and human trafficking. In one instance, someone described how they were blinded by a snapped fishing line and forced to continue working without receiving medical treatment. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that Taiwan exported $1.5 billion worth of seafood in 2020.