[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Human Rights Commission announced on the 30th that it has recommended the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries to improve the system for enhancing the human rights of migrant seafarers.
As of the end of last year, the number of migrant workers working as seafarers on domestic vessels was 26,775, accounting for 44% of all seafarers. However, as a result of on-site monitoring conducted by the Human Rights Commission last year, it was found that migrant workers had to pay high sending fees including deposits to local sending agencies during the recruitment and employment process as seafarers, causing the majority of migrant workers to board Korean fishing vessels burdened with significant debt.
In addition, migrant seafarers on coastal fishing vessels over 20 tons and deep-sea fishing vessels suffer from long working hours without any upper limit on working hours, while their wages are significantly lower than those of Korean seafarers. Frequent wage arrears occur, and they are subjected to human rights violations such as verbal abuse, assault, confiscation of identification cards, and discrimination in the provision of drinking water and the use of living spaces such as restrooms and bathrooms.
To address these issues, the Human Rights Commission recommended to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to ▲ guarantee rest time standards and reasonable working conditions through legislation ▲ have public institutions take full charge of recruitment and employment procedures ▲ delete discriminatory provisions in the 'Seafarers Minimum Wage Notice' ▲ strengthen seafarer labor supervision, human rights education, and grievance procedures to prevent human rights violations and discriminatory acts.
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