Indonesia Rolls Out ILO-Based Rules for Fishing Vessel Crews

Indonesia has started implementing international rules for fishing vessel crews based on International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 188. The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries began applying them through Ministerial Regulation No. 4 of 2026 on the governance of fishing vessel crewing, following Presidential Regulation No. 25 of 2026, which ratified ILO Convention No. 188. The framework is intended to protect crew rights and improve labor oversight in capture fisheries, setting requirements including a minimum age of 18, a Fisheries Seafarer’s Book, competency and medical certificates, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan membership, a Maritime Employment Agreement (PKL), and recruitment via official mechanisms supervised by the Fisheries Harbor Master. The ministry also expanded outreach on crew protection and human trafficking prevention, ran Basic Safety Training for Fisheries (BSTF) for 3,584 crew members, and created a complaint channel since 2021. Sanctions range from coaching and written warnings to fines and suspension or revocation of vessel permits.