Kaohsiung Boat Owner Prosecuted for Illegally Reassigning Indonesian Migrant Workers
Authorities in Kaohsiung's Qijin Harbor have uncovered a case of illegal labor practices in the local fishing industry. A joint task force led by the National Immigration Agency's Southern Division and the Kaohsiung Military Police investigated and discovered that a 27-year-old boat owner, surnamed Sun, had unlawfully reassigned three Indonesian migrant workers to different boats without obtaining proper approval.
Sun and his father have operated fishing vessels for nearly two decades and had legally hired Indonesian crew members through licensed agencies. However, in an attempt to bypass the paperwork required for transferring workers between boats, Sun dispatched the workers without permission. When confronted, he reportedly claimed, "Everyone does it." The workers, visibly confused when questioned, confirmed the unauthorized reassignment.
This action violates Article 57 of the Employment Services Act, with penalties ranging from NT$150,000 to NT$750,000. The workers themselves may face revocation of their work permits under Article 73. The case has been forwarded to the Kaohsiung City Labor Bureau, and further investigations are ongoing to determine if additional illegal activities are involved.
