On Tuesday, labor rights experts urged Taiwan's government to improve labor rights protections, especially for migrant workers, ahead of upcoming trade talks with the United States next week.

Taipei and Washington announced on Friday that they will hold in-person negotiations for the 21st Century Trade Initiative from Monday to May 3 in Taipei. The negotiations will center on bilateral cooperation in areas including labor, environmental protection, and agriculture, as confirmed by both governments.

Taiwan's Fishing Industry's Risk of Forced Labor

At a seminar in Taipei discussing the potential impact of trade negotiations with the US on Taiwan's labor rights and standards, Allison Gill, the legal director of Global Labor Justice, stated that the talks present a significant opportunity for Taiwan to enhance its international reputation and ensure labor rights for all fishers and its distant water fishing industry.

While acknowledging Taipei's efforts to improve labor protection, including the updates to its fisheries and human rights action plans, Gill pointed out that since 2019, the US government has consistently flagged Taiwan's distant water fishing industry as posing a high risk of forced labor.

Fish caught by Taiwanese fishermen is included in the US Department of Labor's list of goods produced with child and forced labor. Taiwan's distant water fishing sector is highly susceptible to forced labor in the recent six-month period, according to the US State Department's 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report.

Gill and her organization researched and interviewed migrant fishermen on Taiwan-flagged vessels. They found that instead of being an isolated issue stemming from a few individuals, slavery is widespread in the fishing industry, fueled by structural drivers that need structural solutions.

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The American expert, who remotely participated in the Taipei seminar, highlighted that while these exposures pose a risk to Taiwan's seafood industry, they also present an opportunity for the government and industry to implement best practices in labor rights protection and showcase global leadership.

The Proposed Wi-Fi Access for Crew Members

As part of the 21st Century Trade Initiative, Gill and her organization have proposed including Wi-Fi access for all crew members aboard Taiwanese distant water fishing vessels, which is crucial in enabling migrant fishers to exercise their fundamental freedom of association. Gill explained that Wi-Fi allows fishers to connect with their labor unions, advocacy groups, families, government agencies, and hotlines, providing them the means to associate with each other while at sea.

Gill concluded that now is the opportune moment for Taiwan to take a leadership role in the global seafood industry by agreeing to mandate Wi-Fi access for all crew members aboard its distant water fishing vessels as part of the 21st Century Trade Initiative agreement.

Labor Laws and Environmental Provisions

During Sunday's seminar, Taiwanese labor activist Catta Chou (周于萱) expressed that the trade talks offer Taiwan an opportunity to align with international laws and standards regarding labor rights. Chou, the deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan Federation of Financial Unions, mentioned that in addition to advocating for labor protection provisions, local environmental groups are also advocating for the inclusion of clauses addressing environmental issues in the trade talks.

The Taiwan-US Trade Citizen Watch Alliance organized the Sunday seminar, which comprises dozens of local labor rights, environmental, and business groups.

The 21st Century Trade Initiative was launched under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US, representing both governments in 2022.

In June 2023, the two sides signed the inaugural agreement under the initiative, covering areas such as customs administration, trade facilitation, regulatory practices, domestic service regulation, anti-corruption measures, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Following in-person negotiations last August, both parties are advancing toward their second agreement.

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