Forced labour in Indonesia recognised on World Fisheries Day – Human Rights at Sea

Report on Forced Labour in the Indonesian Fishing Industry and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: Human Rights Violations in the Context of Global Sustainability

On World Fisheries Day, an examination of the Indonesian fishing industry reveals significant challenges related to forced labour, directly contravening multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A 2025 report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Understanding working conditions of fishers in Indonesia, highlights systemic human rights abuses that undermine global efforts to achieve decent work, sustainable resource management, and justice for all. This report synthesizes findings from the ILO survey and recent legal developments to assess the situation in relation to key SDG targets.

2.0 Violation of SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The conditions documented in the Indonesian fishing industry represent a severe violation of SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Specifically, the findings conflict with Target 8.7 (end forced labour) and Target 8.8 (protect labour rights and promote safe working environments).

2.1 Findings from the International Labour Organization

The ILO survey, conducted across 18 Indonesian ports, identified numerous indicators of forced labour that prevent the realization of decent work. These include:

• Hazardous working conditions that induce fear for personal safety.
• Gruelling and excessive working hours.
• Inadequate provision of food and water.
• Suppression of complaints through threats and acts of physical violence.

3.0 Case Study in Legal Accountability: Akhmad v. Bumble Bee Foods LLC

A significant development in seeking justice and corporate accountability is the U.S. federal court case, Akhmad v. Bumble Bee Foods LLC. The case, involving four Indonesian fishers, was allowed to proceed on November 12, providing a potential pathway to remedy and reinforcing the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

3.1 Allegations and Human Impact

The lawsuit details severe abuses that underscore the failure to protect labour rights (SDG 8.8). The allegations include:

1. Physical violence and emotional abuse.
2. Untreated, life-threatening, and deformity-causing injuries.
3. Debt bondage, a key indicator of modern slavery.
4. Excessive working hours without fair payment.
5. Financial threats directed at workers’ family members.

The testimony of complainant Akhmad, who was forced to continue working after suffering a severe leg injury that exposed bone, illustrates the extreme human cost of these violations and the urgent need for intervention.

4.0 Broader Implications for SDG 14 and SDG 16

The issue of forced labour in the fishing sector extends beyond labour rights, impacting environmental sustainability and the rule of law.

4.1 Connection to SDG 14: Life Below Water

Exploitative labour practices are frequently linked to Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Addressing human rights abuses is therefore an integral component of achieving SDG Target 14.4, which calls for an end to overfishing and destructive fishing practices to ensure the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.

4.2 Advancing SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The advancement of legal cases like Akhmad v. Bumble Bee Foods is critical for realizing SDG 16.3 (promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice). According to Human Rights at Sea, an estimated 128,000 fishers are victims of forced labour globally. The effective and sustained enforcement of existing legal instruments is paramount for several reasons:

• It provides a deterrent effect against abusers.
• It holds corporations accountable within global supply chains.
• It generates positive momentum for systemic change and strengthens institutional responses to human trafficking and forced labour.

5.0 Conclusion

Forced labour within the Indonesian fishing industry is a critical human rights crisis that poses a direct obstacle to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The documented abuses are a clear failure to meet the objectives of SDG 8 (Decent Work). Furthermore, these practices are intrinsically linked to the degradation of marine ecosystems (SDG 14) and the erosion of justice (SDG 16). Legal actions that promote corporate accountability and enforce international labour standards are essential steps toward protecting vulnerable workers and building a truly sustainable and equitable global fishing industry.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  This is the most prominent SDG addressed in the article. The text focuses extensively on labor rights violations within the Indonesian fishing industry, including forced labor, hazardous working conditions, and unfair payment. The article explicitly mentions “the prevalence of forced labour” and details accounts of “excessive working hours, lack of payment,” and “debt bondage,” which are direct affronts to the principles of decent work.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article connects to SDG 16 by highlighting the role of legal systems and justice in addressing human rights abuses. The mention of the U.S. federal court case, “Akhmad v. Bumble Bee Foods LLC,” and the statement that “the real factor in achieving positive change is the sustained and effective enforcement of existing legal instruments” directly relate to the need for access to justice and strong, effective institutions to uphold the rule of law.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  While the article’s primary focus is on human rights, the context is the global fishing industry. The exploitative labor practices described, such as “gruelling working hours,” are often associated with Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Such practices are not only a violation of human rights but also contribute to unsustainable fishing that harms marine ecosystems and undermines efforts to conserve and sustainably use the oceans.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG Target 8.7: Eradicate forced labour and modern slavery

   The article is centered on this target. It opens by highlighting “the prevalence of forced labour in the Indonesian fishing industry” and cites an estimate that “Over 128,000 fishers globally are estimated to be victims of forced labour.” The lawsuit allegations include “debt bondage” and being “trapped against their will,” which are core components of forced labor that this target aims to eliminate.

2. SDG Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments

   The content directly relates to this target by describing the unsafe and insecure conditions faced by fishers. The article mentions that workers “face hazardous conditions that make them fear for their safety,” endure “gruelling working hours without adequate food and water,” and suffer “physical violence.” The specific account of Akhmad’s untreated injury, where he “could see the bone in my leg” and was “ordered to keep working,” is a stark example of a violation of a safe working environment.

3. SDG Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice

   This target is identified through the article’s focus on legal recourse for the exploited fishers. The advancement of the lawsuit “Akhmad v. Bumble Bee Foods LLC” in a U.S. federal court is presented as a “positive development” and an example of victims seeking and gaining access to justice. The call for “sustained and effective enforcement of existing legal instruments” further underscores the importance of the rule of law in protecting vulnerable workers.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 8.7 (Prevalence of forced labour)

  The article provides a quantitative indicator by stating, “Over 128,000 fishers globally are estimated to be victims of forced labour.” This figure, derived from human rights reporting, serves as a direct measure of the scale of the problem, aligning with the official SDG indicator 8.7.1 which measures the proportion of the population subjected to forced labor.

• Indicator for Target 8.8 (Occupational safety and health)

  The article implies indicators related to workplace safety through qualitative and anecdotal evidence. The descriptions of “hazardous conditions,” “physical violence,” and “untreated life-threatening and deformity-causing injuries” serve as qualitative indicators of an unsafe working environment. Akhmad’s severe leg injury is a specific instance that could be categorized under non-fatal occupational injuries, which is measured by indicator 8.8.1.

• Indicator for Target 16.3 (Access to justice)

  The article implies an indicator for access to justice through the legal case it highlights. The fact that the “case of four Indonesian fishers who sued U.S. tuna brand Bumble Bee” was “allowed to move forward” can be seen as a measure of progress. The number and success rate of such lawsuits filed by victims of labor exploitation could serve as an indicator for measuring access to formal dispute resolution mechanisms, as referenced in indicator 16.3.3.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: humanrightsatsea.org