The “Ship to Shore Rights Project South-East Asia” (S2SR) is a regional initiative aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of migrant workers within the fishing sector across several South-East Asian countries, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Launched on August 1, 2020, and set to run until July 31, 2024, this project is a collaborative effort involving multiple partners such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative focuses on promoting safe and regular labor migration by strengthening the regulatory frameworks related to labor migration and labor standards, thereby ensuring a more secure and equitable working environment for all migrant workers.
Throughout its implementation, the S2SR project has facilitated significant advancements such as the ASEAN Declaration on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers, which was adopted with support from this project. Additionally, the initiative has driven key knowledge exchanges on good labor practices in the seafood processing sector between Indonesian and Thai associations, which is crucial for enhancing industry standards across the region. Notable achievements also include the establishment of a Migrant Resource Center in Tegal, Central Java, specifically catering to Indonesian migrant fishers, marking a significant milestone in local support infrastructure.
As the project continues to unfold, its impacts are evident in the stronger and more empowered trade unions within the seafood processing sectors, and the harmonization of laws and regulations in Indonesia’s fishing sector. These efforts collectively contribute to the broader goal of improving labor conditions and enforcing rights protection for migrant workers across South-East Asia. For a deeper understanding of the project’s scope, objectives, and outcomes, the e-factsheet detailing comprehensive information about the “Ship to Shore Rights Project South-East Asia” can be downloaded below.