Regarding the news retrieved from statement made by Indonesian crew members working on Taiwanese distant water fishing vessels during the Boston Seafood Expo in March 2024, indicating that the crew members were injured by fishing gear and suffered from permanent blindness because of insufficient medical treatment and being forced to work, such information only quoted the crew members’ statement, which did not fully correspond with the facts of the incidents.

　　Taiwan Fisheries Agency (TFA) has collected relevant evidence and released "The Result of Investigation on the two crew members injured while working onboard Taiwanese fishing vessels, provided by Global Labor Justice - International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF) at the Boston Seafood Expo in the United States," providing the public with accurate information. The following three points are provided for clarification:

1. The two Indonesian crew members were legally recruited to work on Taiwanese distant water fishing vessels, since their employments were insured in accordance with Taiwan’s laws and regulations.
2. The crew member, A, used to undergo an eye surgery for glaucoma in his right eye. During his employment on a Taiwanese fishing vessel, he experienced eye issues and was sent to a hospital for medical treatment with assistance of the vessel’s operator. A was diagnosed with conjunctivitis in his left eye, while the medical report showed that there was no signs of eye disease in his right eye. After the completion of his employment contract, he returned to Indonesia. Two years later, he was re-employed and returned to Taiwan for his second employment. According to his medical examination, there was swelling in his right eye, but it did not affect his vision. Therefore, the blindness in A's right eye does not have a causal relationship with his employment in Taiwan. In addition to assisting A in seeking medical treatment and claiming for insurance, the vessel's operator and the recruitment agent also covered the expense of his ticket for returning to Indonesia, which complied with Taiwan’s law and regulations.
3. During the crew member, S’s employment on a Taiwanese fishing vessel, he sustained an injury to his right eye from a fish hook. When the incident occurred the fishing vessel was approximately 2,260 nautical miles from port of Donggang in Taiwan. While recognizing that appropriate medical care shall be provided for such injury, the vessel’s captain promptly navigated the vessel back to Taiwan without hesitation. It took the fishing vessel 14 days to navigate back to Taiwan. Upon the vessel arrived at port, S was immediately transferred to a hospital for medical treatment. This suggested that there was no delay in seeking medical attention for crew member, S.

　　Nevertheless, vision loss in one eye was not subjected to compensation under the terms of S’s insurance contract at the time when the incident occurred. Consequentially, S’s injury was not eligible for claiming compensation from the insurance company. However, the vessel's operator fully covered the surgery expense with an amount over NT$190,000, and provided an additional NT$50,000 for medical expenses and condolence payment. In addition, the insurance company offered a condolence payment of NT$50,000. After receiving an administrative guidance issued by TFA, the insurance company has amended the coverage of disability benefits in their contracts. The previous policy has been amended, and contemporary contracts for crew members on Taiwanese distant water fishing vessels have covered disabilities such as vision loss in one eye.

　　TFA emphasized that Taiwan has proactively promoted “Action plan for Fisheries and Human Right” since 2022. Through measures such as raising wages, increasing the frequency of labor inspections, mandating direct payment of wages, raising the medical and death insurance coverage for migrant crew members, mandating the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) on fishing vessels, and subsidizing the installation of wireless network devices (Wi-Fi) on fishing vessels, Taiwan’s government aims to enhance laws and implement plans to continuously improve the rights and benefits of migrant crew members. Regardless of nationality, the government is committed to safeguarding the safety of all crew members.

　　　　Contact person: Xue Poyuan

　　　　Email: poyuan0720@ms1.fa.gov.tw

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