The Agriculture Ministry’s Fisheries Agency confirmed on Tuesday that Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs of the U.S. Department of Labor, arrived in Taiwan on Monday and is expected to stay until Friday. During her five-day visit, Lee will focus on issues related to the rights of those working in Taiwan’s fishing industry, including child labor and forced labor.
The Fisheries Agency stated that the visit was arranged by invitation and that Lee will conduct visits to various fishing ports across Taiwan. However, the specific itinerary will not be made public.
In both 2020 and 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor issued the "List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor", and Taiwan-caught fish was included in the list on both occasions.
Taiwan’s Fisheries Agency later revised the “Regulations on the Authorization and Management of Overseas Employment of Foreign Crew Members”, stipulating a minimum wage increase from US$450 to US$550 per month, and requiring direct payment of wages without using foreign intermediaries for remittance. It also raised the insurance death benefit to NT$1.5 million (US$47400) and requires providing at least NT$300,000 (US$9460) in actual medical insurance coverage. It also established channels for crew member complaints and other measures to protect fishermen’s rights.