The National Fishers Center Indonesia (NFC-I) released its latest annual report for 2025 on Thursday, March 13, 2025, on Exploitation of Fisheries Crew Workers, shedding light on the worsening conditions faced by workers in Indonesia's fishing industry. 

The report highlights widespread labor rights violations, including forced labor, human trafficking, and inhumane working conditions.

Established in 2019 by Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) Indonesia, NFC-I serves as a complaint platform, education center, and information hub for fishery workers. Its establishment was a response to the rampant exploitation and human rights violations, such as forced labor and human trafficking.

DFW Indonesia is a national institution in the form of an open alliance/consortium that brings together institutions and individuals, who care about destructive fishing (DF) practices or environmentally unfriendly fishing activities (PITRaL), poverty, climate change adaptation and natural disasters in Indonesia.

Over the past five years, NFC-I has received a significant number of complaints, revealing recurring patterns of exploitation. The latest findings indicate that these issues remain largely unaddressed by authorities and industry stakeholders.

"So NFC is present not only as a complaint factor. NFC also provides education on how to maintain work risks on board, legal assistance, and we do what is awareness of fisheries work rights. involved in joint inspections then with this current situation we see that the existence of NFC is very crucial to protect and support," Muhammad Arif, NFC Officer, told DFW Media Briefing on Thursday, March 13, 2025.

Exploitation cases

In 2024 alone, NFC-I recorded 28 complaints involving a total of 67 victims, marking an increase from the previous year. The majority of these cases occurred domestically, with 25 reports, while 3 cases involved workers abroad. 

Most of the victims were newly recruited fishing vessel crew (AKP) with little to no experience at sea. The majority of complainants came from Central Java and West Java provinces.

Many workers initially held land-based jobs, but transitioned to the fishing sector due to limited job opportunities on land, the promise of high wages, and the constant demand for labor in the fishing industry. However, despite these incentives, they often found themselves trapped in exploitative working conditions.

Ports and high-risk fishing areas

According to NFC-I, five key ports serve as departure points for the majority of exploited AKP workers:

• Coastal Fishing Port (PPP) Bajomulyo (Pati, Central Java);
• PPP Dobo (Dobo, North Sulawesi);
• Karangsong Fishing Port (Indramayu, West Java);
• Indonesian Fisheries Port (PPN) Muara Angke (North Jakarta, Jakarta);
• Tanjung Wangi Port (Banyuwangi, East Java).

Additionally, three fishing zones have been identified as hotspots for labor rights violations: the Arafura Sea (WPP 718), the Java Sea (WPP 712), and the Indian Ocean.

"These three fishing areas are actually rich fishing grounds, you could say that, and so this encourages a dense flow of fishing from upstream to downstream. But ironically, with this wealth, there are many violations or cases that occur," Siti Wahyatun, Public Interest Lawyer NFC, said.

Labor rights violations

The complaints received by NFC-I reveal a range of severe labor abuses, including: unpaid or withheld wages that do not align with contractual agreements.

Many workers endure inhumane conditions, such as excessively long working hours − often exceeding 10 hours per day − while being forced to work even when sick and subjected to physical and verbal abuse. 

A significant number of them operate without formal contracts or social security benefits, such as Social Security Agency (BPJS) Health Insurance or BPJS Employment Insurance, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. 

“Not only health insurance, but also overall, other social guarantees must also be provided to these fishery workers,” Siti said.

Additionally, non-transparent recruitment processes further disadvantage workers, as they are often unaware of their rights and employment conditions. Many also face serious threats, including the risk of abandonment at sea or even death threats from their employers. 

The report further indicates that numerous cases meet the criteria for human trafficking (TPPO), where workers are deceived by false promises of high wages, only to have their personal documents confiscated, be forcibly relocated multiple times, and suffer from various forms of mistreatment by their employers.

Urgent action

NFC-I, therefore, urges both the government and industry leaders to take immediate action to address the systemic exploitation of fisheries workers in Indonesia. The report emphasizes the urgent need for a fair and transparent wage and recruitment system, ensuring that workers receive proper compensation and are not misled by deceptive hiring practices. 

“Then, ask the government and entrepreneurs to facilitate training for ABK (ship crew members) to support safe and quality capture fisheries production,” Siti said.

Additionally, comprehensive social protection must be provided to AKP workers, including access to health and employment insurance. Strengthening fishery governance and law enforcement is also crucial to ensuring compliance with labor laws and preventing further violations. 

The report also recommended that vessel owners and captains must be held accountable for maintaining safe and fair working conditions, which includes eliminating unjust wage deductions and improving workplace safety infrastructure. 

Providing adequate training and support facilities before workers embark on fishing voyages is another essential step in safeguarding their rights and well-being, it cited. 

As the NFC-I report once again exposes the grim reality of systemic exploitation in Indonesia’s fishing industry, it is evident that a multi-faceted approach is required. Government intervention, industry accountability, and worker empowerment are all critical to effectively tackling these persistent labor rights violations.