︱Road to Migrant Fishers’ Rights
As of the end of September 2021, the 1955 hotline received 3 reports
of suspected human trafficking. These were passed onto the judicial
agencies for assessment and 1 was determined to be a victim. Front-line
administrative personnel staffing the 1955 hotline and law enforcement
personnel require adequate training so they can use past examples to
quickly identify “forced labor” cases when a victim’s complaint is received.
Step one, therefore, calls for improved training so that follow-up judicial
investigations and protective placement can proceed smoothly.
❷ Establish a joint inspection platform
The “Guidelines for Combating Human Trafficking at Sea” are now
being devised by the Ministry of the Interior. A checklist format based on
the 11 forced labor indicators of the ILO is recommended to facilitate rapid
assessment by front-line fisheries and labor administration personnel during
boarding inspections on the high seas or shore-side inspections.
The numerous competent authorities specified in Article 5 of the
Human Trafficking Prevention Act complicate the division of labor. Forced
labor aboard fishing vessels in particular involves a number of competent
authorities. At sea, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) and the FA may
be involved. Once docked, labor inspection units, National Immigration
Agency, and the National Police Agency may become involved as well.
A multi-agency joint inspection platform with clear divisions of labor is
needed so that new cases can be quickly reported to law enforcement for
investigation.
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