At the Blue Justice Conference in Copenhagen, the International Labour Organization (ILO) presented Indonesia’s pioneering “Survey on Decent Work in Marine Fishing” and called on governments worldwide to adopt similar evidence-based tools to address forced labour and trafficking in the fishing industry. The survey, developed with ILO technical support under the Blue Justice Initiative, was implemented by Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and represents the country’s first comprehensive effort to gather data on working conditions in marine fishing.
The survey collected insights from over 3,400 fishers, providing robust evidence on labour conditions, forced labour, and trafficking risks. These findings are already guiding policy reforms, including strengthened inspections and expanded protections for migrant fishers, demonstrating the practical impact of reliable data in shaping labour policies.
Reliable data is increasingly recognized as a game-changer in combating forced labour and trafficking at sea. The survey serves as a model for other countries to replicate, translating global commitments under the Copenhagen Declaration into concrete action on the ground.
During the conference, the ILO also introduced the Toolkit for Surveys on Decent Work in Marine Fishing, a comprehensive resource designed to help governments and partners measure key indicators in line with international labour standards, including the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), and the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29). The toolkit provides questionnaires, an indicator framework, and guidance to ensure comparability of data across countries.
The ILO urged partners of the Copenhagen Declaration to scale up similar surveys, emphasizing that evidence-based approaches are crucial for eliminating forced labour and trafficking in the fishing sector. Funding partners, including the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, reaffirmed their commitment to combating these abuses through regional hubs, digital tools, and new surveys.
The Blue Justice Conference, co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Norwegian Government, convened leaders from 26 countries under the theme “United in Action Against Fisheries Crime.” The ILO’s participation highlighted the human dimension of fisheries crime and the importance of integrated solutions that link labour rights, maritime security, and sustainable ocean governance.
