Hsu-Su-Fen
Fishermen's Service Centre

Migrant workers from poorer countries of Asia, in search of better grounds, which their country cannot provide, have tried to grasp this opportunity by getting into its line in every possible way, no matter legal or illegal, and thus help somewhat solve the labor problem in Taiwan. Though the shortage of labor in Taiwan is more and more serious, but the capitalists are not willing to improve the working conditions to attract the native people, because it is costly to do so, on the other hand, they want to hire more foreign workers for their salaries are much smaller than the native workers.

Filipinos are one of the largest groups of migrant workers in Taiwan. Some are employed in companies as technicians, some in hospitals and clinics, some as musicians in entertainment centers, others in construction projects, still others as domestic helpers, and the majority of them in manufacturing companies. But since the number of legally accepted workers is limited, a great majority of them remain illegal. Among the Filipino migrant workers, fishworkers are also many in number. Approximately there are about 30,000 Filipino fishworkers in Taiwan.

Filipino fishermen are introduced to Taiwan by recruitment agencies from their own country. They set sail from Aparri and are taken to a small Taiwan island, Hsiao Liou floating barracks. They are left there until another bigger fishing boat comes, that will take them to their fishing grounds.

Recruitment procedure: Filipino fishermen for foreign fishing vessels are generally recruited by agencies who victimize them with exorbitant processing and placement fees. Some have contract signed and approved by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), in the Philippines to work in Distant water vessels owned by Taiwanese companies. Some of these contracts are fake. There are those that are not signed or thumb marked by the interested person but some one else. These contracts stipulate a duration of 12 months, US$ 250 monthly salary (now about NT$ 11,200.-), 48 hours work weekly, 30% overtime base on salary, 30 days yearly vacation, and certain percent bonus on catch. Yet, what the fishing companies follow is rather what is stated in as AGREEMENT signed later by the fishermen and the ship company. So, these poor men have to work for at least 13 months or two years, with a monthly salary of NT$ 5,000 (now 11,2000 - 14,000). The first month will be without salary, which would be deducted, either for protection fund, for plane tickets or any other created reasons. Last November when we visit Tung-kang harbor, one Filipino fisherman told us that the first 5 months' salary was deducted for the job (introduction, placement, fees etc.). They are made to work at least 16 hours daily. During fish hauling in the open sea, they would be made to work up to more than 24 hours continuously. There is no overtime pay, no vacation at all. There must not be any complaint done whatsoever, nor organise themselves for solidarity purposes, otherwise a fine of NT$ 5,000 will be meted for each complaint.

These groups generally leave the Philippines by plane with destination for Singapore or Taiwan where their agencies have their offices. Then they will be endorsed or introduced to a ship company which will hire them to work as utility men in their fishing boats.

There are still other groups who leave the Philippines illegally or POEA contracts. They take small boats from Aparri or Illocos, regions in the northern part of Luzon, and while out in the sea, they will be met by bigger boats that will take them to the fishing grounds. Some will be taken to some dilapidated boats called "Floating Barrack" or "Floating Hotel" in the island of Hsiao Liou Chiou, to be picked by bigger fishing boats are owned by Taiwanese, whose agencies or companies are either located in Kaoshiung, Tungkang or Singapore.

Due to psychological and physical pressures in their work some of these fishermen would jump ship and thus become illegals, because their passports have been kept by their employers to prevent from escaping. This practice of holding passports and other documents oils almost common.

Reasons why these Filipino fishermen (illegal ones) are kept in the Floating Barracks. i) From information gathered, the boats whose company is located in Kaoshiung do not bring these men to Kaoshiung, because their ships have limited number of crew registered, and when their boats return to shore the unregistered crew have to be left behind in those floating hotels until they are pick up when they sail again for their fishing grounds. ii) Fishing boats whose companies are located in Tungkang are not permitted to take in foreign crew, because Tungkang, unlike Kaoshiung, is not an International port. Problems these fishermen encounter while kept in this condition are - Isolation, loneliness, boredom, psychological pressures and lack of solidarity among groups working for different companies. No spiritual or religious practices that may help them be aware of themselves as children of God.

Accommodation while on port: Some companies have dormitories near the port where these fishermen could stay after work. But others have to stay and sleep in their boats without light and water. Fishermen in Kaoshiung port are allowed to roam around the port area and even go for Sunday mass inside the city.

In June last year, when Philippine "Presidential Fact Finding Commission" came to Taiwan, they had hearings in Taipei. At that time there were reports that Filipinos who are working in Taiwan are complaining; they are - breach of contract, exaction of exorbitant fees, illegal dismissal, illegal recruitment, maltreatment, missing kin, repatriation bond, sexual abuse/rape, under payment of salaries, unpaid salary/delayed, unsafe working condition, slow remittance, abusive employer, contracts etc.

According to the Newspaper (29.8.1995), Taiwan employed the largest number of overseas Thai workers during 1994. About 91, 162 Thai laborers working in various sectors in Taiwan.

In August 1995 Taoywan District court sentenced a Thai laborer to life imprisonment for murdering a guard.

Salaries of foreign workers: According to some labor recruitment agencies, the salaries of foreign maids are from NT$ 13,000 to NT$ 14,800. Foreign maids are popular in Taiwan because local maids tend to cost more with monthly salaries from NT$ 30,000 - 50,000. Salaries of migrant fishermen Approx.

Month Basic Salary Actual pay to crew
1st month
No salary

2nd - 6
NT$ 11,208 NT$ 4,000 On board they received 20% Remit to Family is 80%
7th - 24 NT$ 13,169 6-8 months 6,000
9th " 10,547
10-24 " 12,169

If foreign maids or any foreign female workers in Taiwan get pregnant, she will be repatriated to their home country before she give birth to a child. Last year also, a Filipine maid was pregnant, but her boss and his wife like her so much and willing to bear all the troubles and medical expenses for her. Yet, she was forced to repatriate to the Philippines.