Synergy and Collaboration between the Provincial Government of Central Java and IOJI for Strengthening Protection and Empowerment of Migrant Fishermen Crew, Small Fishermen, and Fishermen Laborers in Central Java

The MoU signing is aimed at enhancing the empowerment of migrant fishermen crew, small fishermen, fisherman laborers, female fishermen, and other marginalized communities whose livelihoods depend on the sea in Central Java.

The signing took place after the commemoration ceremony of the 115th National Awakening Day themed “Spirit to Rise.” During this event, Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, emphasized the values of unity in realizing the nation’s awakening.

“National Awakening Day is commemorated by recalling our shared struggles. The central government, local governments, and all elements of the nation collaborate to apply the values of unity and harmony to achieve our national awakening,” stated Ganjar.

The cooperation agreement is based on the fact that there is a significant number of migrant fishermen crew, fisherman laborers, and small fishermen in Central Java. In 2021, a total of 1,408 migrant fishermen crew were placed by companies holding permits for recruitment and placement of ship crews in Central Java (BP3MI Jawa Tengah, 2022).

This data does not represent the total number of migrant fishermen crew originating from Central Java, especially considering that many migrant fishermen depart through non-procedural means. Migrant fishermen, including those from Central Java, are vulnerable to human rights violations and labor rights abuses at all stages of their migration, including fraud and document forgery, debt entrapment, and wage withholding.

Central Java is a province with a significant number of fishermen in Indonesia. Simultaneously, “they face various issues such as accidents at sea, difficulties due to exploitation and climate change impacts on marine and fisheries ecosystems, and other problems resulting from the unbalanced bargaining position of fishermen compared to capital owners, employers, and policymakers,” said IOJI CEO, Mas Achmad Santosa.

On the government side, “we are responsible for the protection and empowerment of fishermen. Protection is carried out, among other things, through the provision of facilities and infrastructure for fisheries, guarantees of business certainty, and guarantees of security and safety,” said Head of the Department of Marine and Fisheries of Central Java Province, Fendiawan Tiskiantoro.

The MoU is followed by a Partnership Agreement signed exactly a week later, on Monday, May 29th.

The scope of this Partnership Agreement includes:

1. Conducting studies and drafting policy papers related to the protection and empowerment of Migrant Fishermen Crew and Fisheries Entrepreneurs in Central Java Province;
2. Supporting the development of legal instruments and policies related to the protection and empowerment of Migrant Fishermen Crew and Fisheries Entrepreneurs in Central Java Province;
3. Supporting the formulation of strategies and roadmaps for the Protection of Migrant Fishermen Crew and Fisheries Entrepreneurs in Central Java in accordance with the roles, functions, and authority of the Provincial Government;
4. Supporting the mapping of the origin districts or regions and non-procedural placement-prone areas of Migrant Fishermen Crew;
5. Creating communication products and support for dissemination related to safe, orderly, and regulated placement for Indonesian Migrant Workers from Central Java Province;
6. Supporting the implementation of Migrant Fishermen Crew protection programs by Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) in Central Java Province to minimize non-procedural placement of Migrant Fishermen Crew in Central Java Province through joint labor and fisheries supervision;
7. Supporting the enhancement of systems, institutions, and coordination of training in Central Java Province to improve the competence and awareness of Migrant Fishermen Crew and Fisheries Entrepreneurs regarding basic rights, culture in destination countries, and mechanisms for fulfilling rights, in collaboration with the Central Government;
8. Enhancing the capacity of stakeholders related to safe, orderly, and regulated placement for Migrant Fishermen Crew in Central Java Province;
9. Facilitating meetings and discussions among the government, placement companies, labor unions, universities, academics, and civil society groups to collaboratively strengthen the protection of Migrant Fishermen Crew and Fisheries Entrepreneurs in Central Java Province;
10. Providing other support aimed at maintaining marine and fisheries management in Central Java Province in line with principles of justice and sustainability;
11. Monitoring and evaluation.