UNDERSTANDING WORKERS’ RIGHTS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN
On 31 August 2018, a multi-stakeholder dialogue on
Human Rights was conducted in Kolega x Markplus Kuningan, Jakarta.
Understanding worker’s rights in the supply chain, particularly in the fisheries
sector, was the topic for the event, and FIHRRST Operations Director, Mr.
Bahtiar Manurung was one of the panellists, along with Ms. Susan Herawati
Romica, Secretary General in Koalisi Rakyat untuk Keadilan Perikanan (KIARA),
and Mr. Ruben Sembiring, Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QSHE) Manager
of PT. Pangansari Utama (PSU Food).
The fisheries sector in Indonesia has remained a vital area for the country. As a maritime nation, being the second largest fish supplier overall and largest tuna supplier in the world, there can be no question that workers’ rights need to be taken care of, as the fate of millions of Indonesians depend on this.
Ms. Susan of KIARA presented the findings of research conducted by Oxfam and The Sustainable Seafood Alliance Indonesia (one of whose members is KIARA). During the study, over 100 primarily female workers at some of the biggest shrimp and other seafood exporters from Thailand and Indonesia were interviewed. Some of these exporters supply or have supplied many of the largest supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, among others. The studies in these two countries reported a number of common problems such as: sub-contracted employment and informal or temporary contracts; low pay, often based on piece rates, and excessive working hours; unsafe, unsanitary and degrading working conditions; and/or gender discrimination.