The cooperation involves member countries of the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices, including Combating IUU Fishing in the Region.
KNKT has recommended meteorology, climatology, and geophysics office to be set up at every port in Indonesia to provide comprehensive weather reports for seafarers and fishermen.
Riau Islands marine and fisheries office has confirmed that two fishermen from the province were still detained in Malaysia, a week after they were arrested for illegal entry.
TheIndonesia.id - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has claimed that 133,796 seafarers in Indonesia are registered in and have access to social protection and insurance schemes.
Director of fishing vessels and fishing gears at the Ministry Mansur said the schemes are to ensure the protection of Indonesian seafarers and to prevent them from being exploited.
“In Indonesia, 133,796 seafarers in 49 fishing ports have been registered for social protection and insurance,” Mansur said on Friday, July 22, as reported by Antara.
Ensuring more seafarers have access to the schemes in part of the Ministry’s attempts to prevent exploitation – including encouraging a clear seafarers’ employment agreement, locally known as PKL, that maps out the rights and obligations of both seafarers and employers.
The Ministry reported that as of July 10, 82,282 seafarers already had PKL.
“PKL can also provide social protection for seafarers, which will protect them from various risks at workplace as well as death through [national health insurance scheme] BPJS Kesehatan,” Mansur added.
The Ministry is looking to increase the number of Indonesian seafarers covered by the schemes as Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono reaffirmed the objective.
Trenggono said earlier that social protection is mandated by law and must be made available for all seafarers.
