Distant-water migrant fishers to receive US$20 monthly wage increase: Agency

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Taiwanese distant-water fishing vessels will be required to raise the minimum monthly wage for newly hired foreign crew members from US$550 to US$570 starting in 2026, the Fisheries Agency said Tuesday.

The agency will not issue employment permits to employers who do not comply, Fisheries Agency Deputy Director Lin Ting-jung (林頂榮) told CNA.

The pay raise is part of the second phase of the Action Plan for Fisheries and Human Rights (2026-2029) drafted by the agency, Lin said.

According to a news statement released by the agency on Tuesday, the second phase action plan, which has been submitted to the Cabinet for approval, aims to continue to improve and protect the labor rights of distant-water fishing crew members. 

The second phase continues the strategies of the first phase (2022-2025), including improving labor and living conditions, strengthening social security protections, tightening oversight of labor brokers and flag-of-convenience vessels, enhancing monitoring capabilities, and deepening international cooperation, the statement said.

The agency is also working to incorporate the International Labour Organization's Work in Fishing Convention into domestic law. The draft bill has undergone interagency review and is awaiting Cabinet approval before being submitted to the Legislature for passage, said the statement.

Further work include establishing wage reporting and arrears payment measures to ensure fishing crews receive their due pay, improving communication and medical conditions onboard, and digitizing contracts.

The agency also piloted remote telemedicine measures in 2025, which will be fully implemented in stages this year, Lin added.