Taiwan’s government watchdog, the Control Yuan, has concluded an investigation into complaints from a group of migrant fishers who worked for 15 months without pay. The agency has called on the labor ministry to do more to ensure migrant workers in Taiwan are protected.
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00:00A victory for Taiwan's migrant workers today after 10 Indonesian fishers say they worked
00:05for 15 months without pay.
00:07An investigation from Taiwan's government watchdog, the Control UN, has reached a verdict,
00:12throwing the spotlight on how this billion-dollar industry treats its workers.
00:16I feel very sorry for them.
00:18Because in fact, the government is using the workers' labor force.
00:22I don't need you.
00:23It doesn't treat them as human beings.
00:25It's a cheap labor force.
00:27If I don't want it, I can throw it away.
00:30The investigation found a range of faults, including a lack of access to food, water
00:35and living areas, and highlighted the gaps in Taiwan's labor laws, something that has
00:40become a focus for Taiwan's government.
00:42The Control UN says the Ministry of Labor has to do more to protect workers by more
00:47actively investigating potential violations, pointing to signs of a changing tide in how
00:53Taiwan's migrant workers should expect to be treated.
00:56Jian Su, Cadence Cuarenta, and Harrell Hughes in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.