minutes. But our pay can be, sometimes, by a whole month.” Although brokers eventually deliver the correct amount stipulated in their contracts, timely payment is rare. Muhamad could send money home by himself when he worked on locally hired vessels, but he had to rely on brokers as an overseas-hired distant water fisher. His broker would remit his salary every three months, but discrepancies in the exchange rate were common. For example, when he was supposed to receive 7.5 million rupiah, only 7.25 million appeared in his account, while the rest of his salary seemed to vanish In contrast, Muhamad’s experience in South Korea was markedly different. “In South Korea, the broker would respond immediately if we encountered any problems.” He recalled receiving four days of training before boarding a Korean vessel, which included instruction on monitoring weather and sea conditions, emergency contacts, and a summary of responsibilities. During his three-year stint in South Korea, he received a 13-month annual salary directly deposited into a local bank account, with no tax deductions, and a tax rebate upon returning to Indonesia. Muhamad stressed that many fishers still earn below the governmentmandated monthly minimum of US$550. He believes that the Taiwanese government should strengthen broker oversight and communicate directly with fishers about social security and labor rights rather than relying solely on brokers for information. Focusing on the Different Stakeholders Involved These stories shed light on the challenges encountered by migrant fishers. They include pre-boarding occupational safety training, living and working conditions onboard, and concerns about wages and remittances. Furthermore, their experiences are shaped by the specific roles and functions of foreign and Taiwanese brokers and shipping companies. In February 2021, the NHRC initiated a task force to address human 4