Forced Labor on Ships: The Hidden World of Modern Maritime Slavery

Forced labor on ships is a tragic and often hidden form of modern slavery, affecting thousands of vulnerable individuals around the world. Many are trafficked under false pretenses—promises of fair wages, stable employment, and improved living conditions. Instead, they find themselves trapped on commercial vessels, fishing boats, or even private yachts, compelled to work for little or no compensation, frequently in life-threatening conditions. Forced labor in the maritime industry is particularly difficult to combat because of the jurisdictional complexities of international waters and the mobility of ships, which often avoid inspection by remaining outside of any single country’s regulatory oversight.

Below, we explore examples and real-world cases that highlight the challenges and dangers faced by trafficked individuals forced into labor on ships.

The Prevalence and Mechanisms of Forced Labor in Maritime Industries

Forced labor in the maritime sector spans various types of vessels, from large commercial cargo ships to smaller fishing boats. These industries employ many workers, many of whom are recruited from economically disadvantaged regions. Recruiters often lure individuals with promises of legitimate jobs, enticing pay, and better opportunities than those available in their home countries. Once aboard, however, many workers discover the reality: isolated, grueling, and unpaid labor with little chance of escape.

Some indicators of forced labor on ships include:

• Confiscation of Identification: Workers’ passports and other identification documents are often confiscated, preventing them from leaving the vessel.
• Withholding of Wages: Payment may be delayed or withheld entirely to ensure workers' compliance.
• Physical and Psychological Abuse: Many trafficked workers report violence, threats, and other forms of coercion by superiors to ensure obedience.
• Isolation and Restricted Communication: Once at sea, individuals may have limited or no means of contacting the outside world, cutting off any hope of seeking assistance or returning home.

Case Studies of Forced Labor in the Fishing Industry

1. The Thai Fishing Industry: A History of Human Trafficking

Thailand is one of the world's largest exporters of seafood, supplying a significant percentage of the global market. Unfortunately, the Thai fishing industry has also gained notoriety for exploiting trafficked workers, primarily from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Many of these workers are recruited by third-party brokers who promise them well-paying jobs. Instead, they find themselves on fishing boats operating in abusive conditions and beyond the reach of law enforcement.

In 2014, the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) documented numerous cases of forced labor on Thai fishing vessels. Workers reported grueling 20-hour shifts, insufficient food and water, and physical violence from captains and crew members. Many were forced to fish in treacherous conditions, often without any safety equipment, increasing the risk of injury or even death. Some individuals were confined to ships for months, even years, with no way to contact family or seek help.

The Thai government has since enacted stricter regulations on its fishing industry, but enforcing these rules on the high seas remains a challenge. Many trafficked individuals still endure harsh conditions, unable to escape due to fear of retaliation or the absence of available transport.

2. South Korean and Chinese Distant Water Fishing Fleets

The distant water fishing fleets of South Korea and China, which operate far from their home waters, have been implicated in numerous forced labor abuses. Workers from developing countries, especially those from Southeast Asia and Africa, are often recruited through brokers who promise them decent wages and humane working conditions. However, once aboard, they frequently experience extreme abuse and exploitation.

In one case involving a Chinese vessel in 2020, Indonesian workers reported that they were beaten, forced to work up to 18 hours a day, and paid far below the agreed-upon wages. Some workers recounted being denied adequate food and clean drinking water, and a few even described witnessing fellow crew members die from exhaustion and abuse. The case garnered international attention after a video emerged showing deceased workers being thrown overboard, further highlighting the severity of conditions on some of these vessels.

3. Forced Labor in the Taiwanese Fishing Industry

Taiwan's fishing industry, one of the world's largest, has also been linked to forced labor practices. Reports reveal that many migrant workers on Taiwanese fishing boats face substandard living conditions, abuse, and extended periods at sea. In 2018, Taiwanese authorities detained a captain and crew members from a fishing boat after receiving reports that Filipino and Indonesian workers had been forced to work under inhumane conditions.

A 2019 report by Greenpeace highlighted the case of a Taiwanese vessel where crew members were subjected to 20-hour workdays, beaten if they protested, and paid wages significantly lower than those initially promised. Taiwan has introduced some legal reforms to address forced labor in its fishing industry, but enforcement remains inconsistent.

Examples of Forced Labor on Fishing Vessels in the U.S., Canada, and Europe

1. Forced Labor in the U.S. Fishing Industry

In the U.S., forced labor in the seafood industry is a known issue, particularly on fishing vessels operating off the coasts of Hawaii and Alaska. In Hawaii, migrant workers, primarily from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, have been documented working in grueling conditions with little protection. A 2016 Associated Press investigation found that these workers were often confined to vessels for extended periods, forced to work in poor conditions, and subjected to withheld wages. Many had their passports confiscated, effectively trapping them on board.

The lack of regulation around foreign labor in the Hawaiian fishing fleet created conditions where labor trafficking could flourish. Even with recent efforts to improve working conditions, reports continue to surface, illustrating that the U.S. seafood industry is not immune to forced labor practices, especially in remote areas where regulatory oversight is limited.

2. Canada’s Fishing Industry and Migrant Worker Exploitation

Canada, with its vast coastline and reliance on seafood exports, has also faced forced labor issues in the fishing industry. Reports have surfaced of migrant workers, particularly from Southeast Asia, being trafficked into Canada under the guise of legal employment. In one case, workers were forced into labor on fishing vessels off the coast of British Columbia, facing unpaid wages, physical abuse, and substandard working conditions.

The remoteness of some Canadian fishing regions and the difficulty of regulatory enforcement have made it challenging to monitor labor practices effectively. Additionally, smaller operators and private boat owners are sometimes less scrupulous about working conditions, enabling forced labor to persist. Canada has made recent strides in regulating the seafood supply chain and increasing inspections, but significant challenges remain, especially in rural and coastal areas.

3. Forced Labor in Europe’s Fishing Sector

In Europe, forced labor on ships has been reported, particularly in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic regions, where high demand for seafood has led to the exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers. In Spain, a major player in the European fishing industry, reports have surfaced of West African and Asian workers facing inhumane working conditions on Spanish fishing vessels. In 2020, the Spanish government arrested several operators in Galicia after uncovering a trafficking ring that forced African workers into labor on ships without fair pay or adequate safety measures.

Similarly, in Ireland, reports emerged of migrant workers from the Philippines and Ghana being forced to work on fishing vessels under abusive conditions. A 2015 investigation exposed how some Irish fishing operators took advantage of a visa loophole that allowed them to employ migrant workers at a fraction of the legal wage, while also subjecting them to extended shifts, unsafe conditions, and physical abuse. The Irish government has since launched the Atypical Work Scheme to address labor abuses, but reports indicate that forced labor continues in parts of the fishing sector across Europe.

The Legal and Enforcement Challenges of Forced Labor at Sea

Forced labor on ships is particularly hard to combat due to several unique challenges:

1. Jurisdictional Ambiguity in International Waters Ships operating in international waters—beyond the jurisdiction of any single country—pose a significant challenge for law enforcement. As long as these vessels avoid territorial waters, they often escape the scrutiny of authorities who would otherwise investigate labor abuses.
2. Limited Access to Monitoring and Inspection Labor inspections are difficult to conduct on vessels, particularly those operating far from shore. Port state inspections, where authorities inspect ships docked at national ports, are the main tool for oversight. However, the fleeting nature of these inspections and the vast number of vessels mean that many abusive practices go undetected.
3. Corruption and Complicity Corruption within some regulatory bodies allows vessel operators to continue their practices unchecked. In certain cases, bribery or other forms of collusion with officials enable captains and operators to avoid sanctions and maintain their abusive practices.
4. Lack of Worker Representation and Advocacy Most workers on these ships lack unions or legal representation to advocate for their rights. Without access to legal channels or organizational support, they have no recourse to challenge exploitation or demand fair treatment.

International Efforts to Combat Forced Labor on Ships

The global nature of the maritime industry necessitates coordinated international efforts to address forced labor on ships. Organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have established standards to protect seafarers’ rights. The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) sets out minimum conditions for fair treatment and safe working conditions aboard ships. Though widely ratified, enforcement remains inconsistent due to the inherent challenges of high-seas labor.

Some recent initiatives to address forced labor in the fishing industry include:

• Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA): This agreement, enforced by the United Nations, aims to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, often associated with forced labor, by strengthening port inspection protocols.
• Seafood Slavery Risk Tool: Developed by NGOs and international organizations, this tool provides assessments of forced labor risks in seafood supply chains, enabling companies to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Corporate Accountability: Many companies are now facing pressure from consumers and advocacy groups to ensure their seafood supply chains are free from forced labor. Retailers in the U.S. and Europe, in particular, have started to demand more transparency from their suppliers.
• The U.S. Tariff Act: This legislation allows customs officials to seize seafood imports if there is evidence of forced labor in the supply chain, a tool increasingly used to deter exploitation in the fishing industry.
• Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA): This United Nations agreement strengthens inspection protocols in ports to combat illegal fishing practices, which often intersect with forced labor.
• European Union Directive on Human Trafficking: The EU requires member states to criminalize human trafficking, including forced labor on ships, but enforcement varies widely across the region.
• Corporate Accountability and Certification Programs: Consumer demand for ethically sourced seafood has led some companies and organizations to develop certification programs, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label, which certifies seafood as free from forced labor and environmental harm. These certifications, while voluntary, provide transparency and encourage companies to monitor their supply chains.

A Global Responsibility to Address Maritime Forced Labor

Forced labor on ships is a complex but urgent issue requiring a global response. International collaboration among governments, NGOs, advocacy groups, and industry leaders is essential to creating robust mechanisms for labor inspection, worker protection, and holding perpetrators accountable. National laws, like those in the U.S. and EU, combined with international agreements such as the Port State Measures Agreement, are crucial tools in fighting forced labor at sea. By continuing to expose these hidden abuses and strengthening global regulatory frameworks, we can take significant strides toward ending this modern form of slavery, giving those suffering on the high seas a chance for justice and freedom.