leads to dissatisfaction among the fishers.
TSSFA Secretary-General Shih elaborated on the association's efforts
to promote work-hours recording. The association recognizes that keeping
records of work and rest hours is an essential human rights benchmark for
fishers. However, the current primary purpose of recording work hours is
to preserve evidence. “It’s to prepare for potential complaints or lawsuits,
which feels excessively forward-thinking.” The association has designed a
work-hour record book for its members, where each crew member has a
detailed form requiring signatures. Shih expressed concern that filling out
forms for 10 or 20 names on each sheet will exhaust flexibility, leading to
falsified records just to go through the motions. He hopes to find a method
that is both effective for preserving evidence and practical to use.46
v. Salary and Compensation
The minimum wage for migrant fishers employed under overseas
contracts is specified in Article 6 of the Regulations on the Authorization
and Management of Overseas Employment of Foreign Crew Members47, as
NHRC (January 6, 2023). “Actions and Dialogues on Human Rights Issues of Migrant
Fishers: Stakeholder Forum,” Meeting Record with the TSSFA.
47
Article 6 of the Regulations on the Authorization and Management of Overseas Employment
of Foreign Crew Members:
“The employment contract signed between the distant water fisheries operator and the foreign
crew member in accordance with Article 5, paragraph 1 shall include the following:
(1) The validity period of the contract.
(2) Items, amount, and means of payment of the cost or expenses to the foreign crew member.
The monthly wage of the foreign crew member shall not be less than the amount as stipulated
by the competent authority.
(3) The distant water fisheries operator shall take out the accident, medical, and life insurance
for the foreign crew member during the term of the employment contract, where the coverage
of pay-as-you-go in the medical insurance shall not be less than three hundred thousand New
Taiwan Dollars and the insured amount of the life insurance shall not be less than 1.5 million
New Taiwan Dollars. In case of failing to take out the insurances as required, insufficient
insurance coverage, or failing to acquire a sufficient claim from an insurer, the distant water
fisheries operator shall bear the loss or indemnity.
(4) In case that any foreign crew member suffers from injuries or sickness in the performance
of duty, the distant water fisheries operator shall arrange immediate medical treatment and shall
pay the medical fees and other related expenses.
(5) In case that any foreign crew member suffers from injuries or sickness not in the
46
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