The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened a high-level tripartite stakeholders meeting in Jakarta on 30 September to reaffirm its commitment to ratifying ILO Convention No. 188 on Work in Fishing. The meeting concluded with a shared agreement to pursue ratification by 2026.
© Mas Alfian/ILO
ILO Convention No. 188, adopted in 2007, is an international legal framework that sets minimum standards for the working and living conditions of fishers. It covers essential areas such as conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health, medical care and social security.
Presided over by Minister of Manpower Yassierli, the meeting followed President Prabowo Subianto's May Day 2025 call to accelerate Indonesia's ratification of the Convention. As a key partner of the ILO, the Ministry of Manpower is leading efforts to transform political will into concrete action, with ratification targeted before the end of 2026.
The time is now. We must unite to develop a roadmap for ratifying ILO Convention No. 188. This ratification reflects our constitutional duty to protect fishers.
Yassierli, Minister of Manpower
The meeting brought together representatives from the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI), the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) and major trade union confederations.
Participants engaged with ILO experts to better understand the Convention's provisions, the administrative procedures for ratification, the technical groundwork required and the post-ratification reporting process. The meeting also served as a platform for open and constructive dialogue among government, employer and worker representatives, reinforcing the principles of decent work and fundamental rights in the fishing sector.
"The time is now. We must unite to develop a roadmap for ratifying ILO Convention No. 188. This ratification reflects our constitutional duty to protect fishers. It is an opportunity to make a lasting impact and leave a legacy that affirms the nation's commitment to its fishers," Minister Yassierli stated in his opening remarks.
The Ministry of Marine Affair and Fisheries is committed to ratifying ILO Convention No. 188 to ensure the rights of fishers on both domestic and migrant fishing vessels.
Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
He also expressed appreciation for the ILO's 75 years of support to Indonesia, marking the anniversary of the country's membership since 1950. "We must continue to strengthen our collaboration," he added.
Echoing this urgency, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, in remarks delivered by Director General of Capture Fisheries Lotharia Latief, emphasized the Ministry's commitment to ratifying the Convention. "We are focused not only on the sustainable management of marine resources but also on improving the welfare of fishers. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheriess committed to ratifying ILO Convention No. 188 to ensure the rights of fishers on both domestic and migrant fishing vessels," he said.
Ratifying ILO Convention No. 188 in 2026 is a pivotal step for Indonesia to ensure that fishers, both domestic and migrant, are protected under international labour standards.
Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste
With support from the ILO's Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy programme, the Ministry of Manpower has taken concrete steps to improve working conditions for fishers in partnership with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries by establishing the Joint Inspection Teams for Labour Norms onboard Fishing Vessels in Central Java and North Kalimantan.
"Ratifying ILO Convention No. 188 in 2026 is a pivotal step for Indonesia to ensure that fishers, both domestic and migrant, are protected under international labour standards," said Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste. "It signals a strong national commitment to decent work, fair recruitment and the elimination of exploitation in the fishing sector. Becoming the second ASEAN country to ratify the Convention not only aligns Indonesia's policies with global norms but also enhances the sustainability and competitiveness of its fishing industry."
This initiative is part of the ILO's Ship to Shore Rights programme, a regional initiative funded by the European Union and implemented in collaboration with the ILO, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The programme is aimed at promoting safe labour migration and decent work across Southeast Asia's fish and seafood supply chains.
