[Unofficial Korean-to-English translation provided by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

"Improvement of migrant fishermen's working conditions on deep sea fishing vessels, including prohibition of passport confiscation and withholding wage, by Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries," 26 March 2024

... There have been repeated calls to improve the human rights violations and poor working conditions of migrant fishermen.

... all acts of retention or deduction of wages by domestic and foreign recruitment agencies in the name of fees and deposits will be prohibited. The Ministry also plans to improve overtime payment and recognize seafarers' experience through labor-management consultations within the year.

It also tightens regulations to prevent passports confiscation by captains or labor contractors. ... Specifically, individual lockers will be installed in common areas on board (restaurants, rest rooms, etc.) so that seafarers can access them with their own personal keys.

In addition, for longline tuna vessels, it will be mandatory for the vessels to enter a nearby port within one year of departure.

... It will strengthen surveys to ensure compliance with work hours (max. 10 hours per day, with six consecutive hours). ... The Ministry plans to impose sanctions on offending vessels, including limiting their catch.

...