The Chinese mainland has formally resumed the export of fishery
labor services to Taiwan after a four-year suspension, a Ministry
of Commerce official announced yesterday.
The first batch of mainland fishermen will set out today for
Taiwan from Pingtan Island in East China's Fujian Province.
The move is a result of meetings between the two sides to agree
on requirements and details of their fishery labor cooperation
agreement, such as salaries, said Wu Xilin, director of the
External Economic Cooperation Department under the Ministry of
Commerce at a press conference in Fuzhou, capital city of
Fujian.
"This is an important component of cross-Straits trade
cooperation," Wu said.
"However, the legitimate interests of mainland fishermen could
not be effectively protected previously, (hence the
suspension).
"Conflicts frequently occurred due to the absence of a
functional cross-Straits fishermen cooperation mechanism."
During the suspension, many Taiwan organizations contacted
mainland counterparts, hoping that the mainland would resume
cooperation, said Diao Chunhe, director of the Fishery Labor
Cooperation Coordination Committee for the Two Sides of the
Straits.
The mainland has been actively creating opportunities for the
restoration of labor export to Taiwan and were instrumental in
pushing forward negotiations between non-governmental fishery
associations from both sides of the Straits, Diao said.
So far, the mainland has signed cooperation agreements with
three Taiwan fishery organizations.
"One of the key contents of the agreement is how to protect the
legitimate rights of mainland fishery workers," Diao added.
He told reporters that the agreement stipulates a minimum
monthly salary of US$280 for new fishermen and US$320 for
experienced ones.
Taiwan fishery managers are also required to buy life and
medical insurance policies for each mainland fisherman. The
employers and workers must also sign a uniform labor contract.
According to the agreement, a series of systems should be
established to handle any emergencies and complaints from
fishermen.
Officials revealed that the mainland is expected to provide more
professional training programs to fishing workers in the near
future.
"We do hope the Taiwan authorities respond positively and
support to the resumption of the fishery labor cooperation to make
it run smoothly," Diao said.
(China Daily May 19, 2006)