Seafood Task Force Spearheads On-going Workshop Program on Fair and Ethical Recruitment in Indonesia's Fisheries Sector - Dec '25
Tangerang, Indonesia, 25th November, 2025
The Seafood Task Force (STF) held a further workshop at the beginning of November 2025, in Indonesia, to focus on advancing fair and ethical recruitment practices in Indonesia's fisheries sector.
The workshop, which was organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Indonesia, brought together 40 officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Protection for Migrant Workers (KP2MI) and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).
Held at the Trembesi Hotel in Tangerang from November 10-12, the workshop was convened to identify gaps in current recruitment processes, improve due diligence, advance transparency for migrant workers and ensure better law enforcement across ports and recruitment agencies.
The STF served as the central support mechanism for the workshop, coordinating with officials from directorates within both ministries working directly with domestic and migrant fishermen, as well as recruitment and placement agencies. The ultimate aim being to drive more consistent implementation across the fisheries sector.
The STF, which represents over 55 commercial members, has worked extensively with stakeholders across migration corridors to identify the gaps and continuously strives to ensure workers are recruited ethically and treated fairly, as well as developing a Social Code of Conduct to support employment agencies to raise standards. This workshop met an important milestone by ensuring that stakeholders committed to improved data sharing and greater coordination.
The workshop’s key priority was to reaffirm the work that needs to be done with agencies to better monitor recruitment flows, contractor performance and post-deployment support. This led to an agreement on strengthened enforcement mechanisms, including:
- Clearer penalties for non-compliance and heightened oversight of the License for Companies Engaged in the Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers (SIP3MI) processes
- Streamlining the licensing and due diligence process between the ministries for prospective migrant fisher’s placement companies.
- Targeting inspectors, recruiters, and employers on regulatory requirements, worker protections, and best practices in labor standards.
Martin Thurley, Executive Director of the Seafood Task Force, said:
“This important workshop programme is driving continuous improvement in the protection of migrant workers in Indonesia's fisheries sector. By bringing together KP2MI and KKP officials to align on common standards and enforcement mechanisms, we are building the foundation for systematic change.The frameworks being developed will be crucial as we further engage with recruitment agencies in the near future.”
The workshop laid the critical groundwork for further engagement with the private sector. As a result, the STF will conduct a follow-up workshop in Pemalang with approximately 30 recruitment agencies to formalize the frameworks, standards, and licensing requirements developed during this month's sessions.
Participants agreed to move forward with plans for a forthcoming technical workshop aimed at finalizing SIP3MI issuance and supervision in the fishing sector, along with developing standardized checklists, developing standard cost structures for the placement of overseas Indonesian migrant fishers, publishing worker-facing information in accessible formats, and piloting audits at key fishing hubs to validate ethical recruitment protocols.
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About the Seafood Task Force:
The Seafood Task Force (STF) was established in 2014 to restore global confidence to trade, following concerns about social and environmental abuse in global tuna and shrimp supply chains. It is made up of over 50 major retailers, brands, food service companies and their supply chain partners.
The STF drives supply chain oversight at scale, pioneering a pro-competitive approach that makes it easier for its members to meet international standards and growing due diligence requirements.
The STF is a US-based, not-for-profit trade association established for the seafood industry by the seafood industry. Its vision is a future where its members’ seafood supply chains are fully traceable, free from the risk of human rights violations and free from environmental degradation.
For more information: https://seafoodtaskforce.global/
For media inquiries, please contact: stf@thephagroup.com