Jakarta, May 1, 2025 — A group of fishers and activists from various organizations under the Maritime Workers Unions Network marched alongside Greenpeace Indonesia activists during a peaceful protest in front of the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower office and the Indonesian Parliament Building in Jakarta on May 1, 2025, for the commemoration of the International Workers day—or May Day.
They called on the Indonesian government to ratify the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 188 (C-188) on Work in Fishing. C-188 is an international legal instrument that is aimed at ensuring decent working conditions for fishers aboard fishing vessels, specifically with regard to conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health (OSH) protection.
“Indonesia ratified the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) for trade ship crews, so it is time for equal protection for fishing vessel crews,” said Team 9 Coordinator Syofyan Koto.
In their action, the masses unfurled banners with direct appeals to the government, including “Ratify K-188, Mr. President!” and “Protect the Sea, Protect Workers”. This protest was aimed at highlighting the fact that behind the consumption of seafood, there are working conditions for fishermen that often do not have adequate protection.
According to Syofyan, many Indonesian fishers nowadays are still recruited without clear procedures, wage standards, social security, and work safety. By ratifying the convention, he continued, Indonesia will not only be able to better protect the fishers, but also increase the economic value of its fishery products.
“Indonesia can strengthen the competitiveness of fishery products in the global market and improve the inspection mechanism for foreign vessels entering national waters,” he said.
Greenpeace Indonesia Ocean Campaigner Sihar Silalahi said that C-188 is not only about fishers protection, but also about the sustainability of the fisheries sector.
“Ocean sustainability is not just about fish, but also about the people who work in the ocean and within the entire supply chain of fishery products. Upholding human dignity cannot be postponed for reasons like political calendar or quarterly economic targets. It has to be now,” said Sihar.
The peaceful protest on 2025 May Day is a reminder that the fight for workers rights not only for those who work on land. From the sea, the fishers’ voice are now heard increasingly loudly: protect workers, protect oceans, and ratify C-188.
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About Team 9
Team 9 is a coalition of civil society and trade unions formed to encourage the acceleration of the ratification of ILO C-188 by the government of Indonesia. This initiative was started in 2022 by nine organizations and has since continued to grow as support from various trade union elements and civil society organizations has strengthened. Currently, Team 9 consists of:
- Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)
- Greenpeace Indonesia
- Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)
- Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI)
- Indonesian Traditional Fishermen’s Union (KNTI)
- Indonesian Seafarers and Fisheries Workers Union (KP3I)
- People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA)
- United Fishing Vessel Crew Union of North Sulawesi (SAKTI Sulut)
- Indonesian Transportation Vessel Crew Union (SAKTI)
- Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI)
- Indonesian Migrant and Informal Workers Union (SEBUMI)
- Indonesian Fishermen’s Union (SNI)
- Sumatera Environmental Initiative (SEI)
About the Maritime Sector Workers Union Network
The Indonesian Maritime Sector Workers Union Network was formed by 6 trade union confederations and 2 labor unions with the aim of encouraging improvements in labor governance in the maritime sector. Currently, the Maritime Sector Workers Union Network consists of:
- Federation of Food, Beverage, Tourism, Restaurant, Hotel and Tobacco Workers Unions (FSB-KAMIPARHO)
- Federation of Indonesian Maritime Workers Unions (F-SPMI)
- Indonesian Rust Anchor
- Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI)
- National Workers Union Confederation (KSPN)
- Confederation of All Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPSI-CAITU)
- Indonesian Transportation Ship Crew Union (SAKTI)
- Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI)
- Indonesian Fisheries Workers Union (SPPI)
- All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI)
Contact Person:
Team 9 Coordinator, Syofyan Koto, 0813‑1791‑0638
Secretary of the Maritime Sector Workers Union Network, Sulistri, 0813-1414-8014
Greenpeace Indonesia Oceans Campaigner, Sihar Silalahi, 0811-9611-0906
Photo and Video:
Gilang, 0878-2210-6484
Kirana, 0823-8403-4349
