In Indonesia, international attention has primarily focused on migrant fishers, often overlooking the challenges faced by local Indonesian fishers and predominantly female seafood processing workers. Recognising this gap, the Freedom Fund and Humanity United commissioned the study Labour rights in Indonesia’s seafood sector to the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre at the University of Sydney. The aim was to guide and enhance the effectiveness of initiatives focused on mobilising and protecting rights within the seafood sector. The research involved a comprehensive desk review, interviews, and site visits for direct engagement with workers and unions, emphasising a grassroots understanding of the challenges within Indonesia’s export-oriented seafood processing and commercial fishing industry.
The study’s findings highlight the need for a long-term, organising-focused approach to promoting labour rights in the seafood sector, contrasting with the prevalent market-oriented strategies. Successful worker organising frameworks demonstrated in countries like Thailand suggest that local NGOs and unions play crucial roles in supporting this movement. Recommendations emphasise developing a hybrid unionization strategy, increasing collaboration among partners, enhancing industrial relations for local workers, and building strategic alliances with mainstream organizations. Furthermore, it advocates for the Freedom Fund and Humanity United to tailor support for organizing activities while fostering specialisation and meaningful connections with broader labour networks.
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