PCT. SFSC Jan 2012 newsletter

A Sanctuary for Seamen and Fishermen ~

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Seamen’s and Fishermen’s Service Center

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Invisible workers at sea

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P. C. T. Seamen’s/Fishermen’s Service Center ~ News Letter 2012 Jan

The Presbyterian Church in TaiwanSeamen’s/Fishermen’s Service Center No.2, 1F Yukang Chung 1st Rd., Chien-chen District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Tel:886 7 8227296

Fax:886 7 8416870

Website: http://www.pctsfsc.org.tw/

Bank: E.SUN COMMERCIAL BANK KAOHSIUNG BRANCH BANK Account No: 0082466056717 Name: The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Seamen’s/Fishermen’s Service Center Address: NO3. SZU WEI 4TH ROAD. LIN YA DISTRICT KAOHSIUNG TAIWAN R.O.C. SWT：ESUNTWTP

If you would like to receive the E-newsletter instead of the regular newsletter in the future, please e-mail us your e-mail address to pctsfsc@yahoo.com.tw 1

P. C. T. Seamen’s/Fishermen’s Service Center ~ News Letter

A Sanctuary for Seamen and Fishermen

2012 Jan

Director / Wu Huichuan

The Fishermen’s Center, located next to the fishing port, where social worker finishes his day and says goodbye to the fishermen in the Seamen’s Center. In one particular dark night, while walking home, the social worker was surprised by a bleeding male body lying in front of the fishing port police station. He had multiple cuts, most of which measured more than 30 centimeters long and deep enough to penetrate internal organs. His ears were nearly severed. Due to the nature of the situation, the police asked the Fishermen’s Center for assistance. With the social worker help, the injured fisherman was sent to the hospital immediately for emergency treatment. Then, the police finally identified the victim as a foreign worker and understood the circumstances of the situation. Our organization urged the police to arrest the motorcycle racing gang, who randomly hurt foreign fishermen just to show whose courage was greater, and assisted the injured victim in compensation claims. Although most Taiwanese does not have good public opinions towards foreign laborers, the 18 years old injured international fishman, who left his home to make money in Taiwan, can still trust and rely on some friends in Taiwan.

In order to cut costs, Taiwan’s fishing industry recruited numerous foreign workers. They further requested the Fisheries Agency in passing Outside Employment Ordinance to further exploit them, turning a blind eye to the previous Labor Standards Law which protects basic human rights, along with minimum wage, working conditions, working hours, and basic living conditions. International fishermen from different countries receive different salary, but majority do not get more than about one third of the basic wages in Taiwan, or $150-200 in US dollars. Only a few experienced fishermen, who have worked on the ocean for many years, can get US$500-600, which is about equal to the basic wage in Taiwan. In general, international fishermen do not work under good conditions. Far away from home and family for many years at a time, without a proper place to live and take a bath in, some employers even keep them in prison-like places to prevent them from escaping! In an effort to keep fishing costs as low as possible and improve economic development, the Fisheries Agency and Taiwan Council of Labor Affairs continuously make compromises with the fishing industry and disregarding the importance of protecting basic human rights. This will prevent Taiwan from becoming one of the progressive countries and cause our years of effort in the struggle for human rights to disappear. The incapability of the protection of international fishermen human rights has become a major black hole for Taiwan.

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P. C. T. Seamen’s/Fishermen’s Service Center ~ News Letter

2012 Jan

About 30 years ago, The Presbyterian Church of Taiwan noticed that the Taiwanese fishermen face many hardships. Their families are usually poor and defenseless. They work in highrisk environments of the open ocean. Furthermore, their boats could be detained when working in disputed territorial waters due to Taiwan’s weak diplomacy with its neighboring countries. In an effort to help the fishermen, the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan established Seamen’s and Fishermen’s Service Center, to assist in the rescue of the detained boats, save the fishermen from shipwrecks, and assist their families. Since its foundation, thanks to the donations of Christians and the generosity of people throughout Taiwan, the Seamen’s and Fishermen’s Service Center is able to help and service the Taiwan’s fishermen who lack any support of governmental resources.

For more than ten years, young international fishermen have worked laboriously on Taiwanese fishing boats to earn a living and send money home to their loved ones. The Center has seen their homesickness, loneliness and helplessness and is always ready to give them help and provide them with a warm shelter.

We appeal to Taiwan’s relevant government authorities to maintain basic human rights. In addition, cooperate with private institutions to establish international fishermen’s centers which can help and give assistance to all those working hard for Taiwan’s fishing industry. We hope to not see another orphan wandering the dark fishing ports at night, and also hope their employees will care about them and take good care of them. Only when this happens will Taiwan become one of the progressive countries with human rights.

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P. C. T. Seamen’s/Fishermen’s Service Center ~ News Letter

Invisible workers at sea

2012 Jan

Social worker / Lin Shiche

When you’re riding a high-speed rails train, have you ever thought about how the equipment/rails were built? While driving your family in the car, have you ever thought about how the cars were transported from to Taiwan? As you’re dining in a seafood restaurant, have you ever thought about how the sea foods you are eating end up on your table? All these are attributed to the hard working seamen and fishermen, the invisible workers at sea. Because Taiwan is surrounded by oceans, everything we do, from food, clothing, housing and transportation, comes from the sea in one form or another. Taiwan’s offshore fishing industry is ranked sixth and its ocean transportation is 11th in the world. As such, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the Taiwanese are children of the sea.

As a result of the restructuring of Taiwan’s industrial infrastructure and the pressure of fierce competition in world market economies, Taiwanese sea/fishermen are gradually disappearing from the sea, replaced by a growing number of foreign fishermen from countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and China. Although foreign workers have helped solve the shore problems of the local fisheries and marine transportation, they also bring other issues. Cultural differences, language barriers, and bad living conditions on boats have caused violent conflicts between the foreign and local seamen. The conflicts destroyed many fishing families and have caused pain and tears in the victims’ families. These problems cannot be ignored any longer.

Of course our government has to do something to prevent these conflicts from happening, but we can also help. We can smile to the international seafarer, say a kind hello, and make them feel the warmth of the Taiwanese people can go a long way in making them feel welcome. We can set up local support network to help them solve all kinds of problems in their daily lives, and keep them from feeling from hopelessness and helplessness. We can provide shuttles from the port and the center, a place to relax and rest, there will be phones and computers for them to contact their families, and a priest to not only provides prayers but also spiritual support. Although the international seafarers have different colors, they are just like our brother. The Center will try to fulfill the international seafarers’ simple desires and demands as much as possible and make Kaohsiung City their home away from home.

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