The challenge
Despite the 2015 ban on foreign fishing vessels in Indonesia, forced labour and human trafficking continue to plague the Aru Islands’ fishing industry. In 2022-23 alone, the National Fishers Centre identified 21 cases involving 43 victims of forced labour. Workers face unpaid wages, lack of health insurance, document withholding, and threats. The absence of a fisheries workers’ union leaves workers vulnerable and without collective representation to advocate for their rights.
Why this matters
The Arafura Sea hosts approximately 5,000-6,000 fishing vessels and 12 fish processing units, employing thousands of workers from Java, Sulawesi and Maluku. In Dobo district alone, 21 factories employ over 100 casual and seasonal workers, predominantly women. These workers lack basic protections and face dangerous working conditions with little recourse for grievances.
Objectives
- Form and register a seafood workers’ union in the Aru Islands
- Build working class awareness among seafood workers
- Develop and implement an action plan to improve worker protection
- Establish strong connections with other unions and community organisations
Activities
- Conduct participatory action research with workers to understand workplace conditions
- Organise worker learning circles and political education sessions
- Provide institutional capacity building on union governance
- Support official registration of the union with local authorities
- Document workplace violations and build evidence for advocacy
Partner
Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) Indonesia is an alliance of organisations and individuals working for sustainable fisheries, poverty reduction, and protection of fishers and fisheries workers. Established in 2000, DFW-Indonesia has extensive experience in community empowerment, research, and marine policy advocacy.
Impact
The project will empower seafood workers to collectively advocate for better pay, safer working conditions and stronger protections. Through union formation, workers will gain a legitimate platform to raise grievances and negotiate with employers. The project builds on DFW-Indonesia’s successful establishment of the Aru Islands Fisheries Workers Solidarity Forum, which has already begun documenting workplace issues and supporting escaped workers.
