The Executive Yuan today convened the 24th meeting of its human rights protection task force, presided over by Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo. The protection of the human rights of foreign fishermen working on Taiwanese vessels and the incorporation of human rights teaching into the 12-year national education system were among the issues discussed.
In addition, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) reported on its progress, as well as subsequent planning, in signing the United Nations (U.N.) Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, while the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) delivered a special report on care services for convicts who bring their dependent children with them to correctional institutions.
The vice premier directed the MOI to expedite its deliberations on the U.N. convention against torture and enjoined other agencies to actively collaborate in related affairs in order to make the ROC a signatory.
Mao then instructed the Ministry of Labor and the Council of Agriculture (COA) to scrupulously enforce the rules for ROC fishing vessel owners hiring foreign nationals overseas to work onboard their vessels. He also asked the agencies to supervise ship owners' negotiations of contracts with foreign workers and safeguard foreign crewmembers' rights to form associations and participate in the labor insurance program.
Furthermore, the competent authorities must meticulously carry out the inspection of and oversight of foreign fishermen and intermediary companies, dealing with inappropriate labor measures and labor disputes in accordance with the law to guarantee the fishermen's rights and interests, Mao advised.
Interference in the formation or functioning of labor associations, malicious treatment of association cadres, and negotiation in bad faith were among the inappropriate labor measures the vice premier specified, while labor disputes that authorities must resolve included appeals by foreign crew accusing ROC deep-sea fishing vessels of engaging in labor and wage exploitation through human trafficking.
In response to a proposal by a task force member from the private sector that human rights teaching be enhanced in the 12-year national education framework, Mao directed the Ministry of Education to study the issue.
Finally, regarding the plan jointly mapped out by the MOJ and MOHW for providing care services to convicts who bring their dependent children along when serving time at correctional institutions, Vice Premier Mao affirmed the efforts of related agencies in taking the initiative to care for displaced and disadvantaged children. He also asked the MOJ and MOHW to continue with related measures based on existing foundations and carry out relevant studies so that the initiative may become more legally and systemically comprehensive in order to safeguard the rights and interests of inmates and their children.