A dispute between a Filipino migrant worker who worked as a fisherman in Yilan county in northeastern Taiwan and a Taiwanese captain surnamed Jhan remains unresolved and controversial.
On May 3, the Filipino accidentally let a rope slip from his hands, provoking a Taiwanese crewman, The Liberty Times reported. He was scolded by the crewman and then by Jhan.
The two Taiwanese were accused of having pushed the Filipino toward the edge of the ship and attempting to throw him into the sea. The Filipino later sought help from the Yilan Migrant Fishermen Union (YMFU), complaining that he had been physically abused on the fishing boat.
Last month, YMFU co-founder and secretary general Allison Lee Li-hua, who was honored with a “Trafficking-in-Persons Hero” award by the US State Department the same month, held a press briefing and helped the Filipino migrant worker file a complaint to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office.
On Monday, Jhan was contacted by the prosecutors’ office and asked to assist in an investigation of a human-trafficking case.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, Jhan admitted that he had scolded the Filipino fisherman but said he had also tried to separate him from the Taiwanese crewman who was quarreling with him. He said he was disappointed by the Filipino, who had worked for him for seven years but finally “set him up”.
He said he would install cameras on his boats to avoid further disputes.
The Suao Fishermen’s Association said in the same briefing that the accusation against Jhan was groundless and untrue.
The Labor Affairs Department in Yilan county said it had helped the Filipino find another job upon his request, The Liberty Times reported.
Good on the Filipino for being brave enough to fight for his rights. But, (nothing against the Filipinos, Thais, Indos, mainlander Chinese), the Taiwanese aboriginals have been cheated out of their livlihoods by imported labour.
How come they are robbed of the opportunity?…Don’t you know the policy of Taiwan regarding foreign labor? Have you heard of Job Orders for foreign workers? Employers need to prove the government they really needed foreign workforce. J.O.’s are very tideous process before you get approval from the government. So when foreign workers come to Taiwan its not called "CHEATING" of local employment.���
Do you think you are far better thinker than the Taiwan’s CLA?
Taiwan’s CLA are focused on the economy. That’s their job. Aboriginal construction workers make less now than 25 years ago. Supply and demand. Not fair to them. Wasn’t so long ago that they couldn’t speak their own languages at school or church. Freedom? Please let me know of any aboriginals anywhere in the world where they get a fair go.