Responsible Recruitment Project
“Responsible Recruitment Project” is one of the projects of FCF’s Social Responsibility Program, which aims to establish an industry-accepted responsible-recruitment standard/process and conducting independent social audits for recruitment agencies to ensure fair treatment to crew members and improve the existing practice throughout the fishing industry crew recruitment process.
Our Vision to Drive Improvements
FCF has conducted the Responsible Recruitment Project (RRP) and commenced the RRP with standard development, identifying partners for trials since 2021. The project will first focus on conveying international social responsibility standard to be adopted and conducted by local labor recruiters and agents. FCF will also work with multiple external stakeholders to explore an optimal responsible hiring/recruiting mechanism through the capacity building and social assessment in the labor supply chain.
An Optimal Responsible Recruiting Mechanism
- Building the capacity of responsible recruitment with recruitment agencies.
- Establishing an industry-accepted responsible-recruitment standard/process that aligns with international social standards, such as ILO C188, Seafood Task Force (STF) and On-The-Level (OTL).
- Conducting independent social audits for recruitment agencies to ensure fair treatment to crew members.
Indonesian Fisherman Association (INFISA) is the first organization participating in the program and helps its collaborating agencies to adopt good social practice among recruiting process and management mechanism in the contract period via capacity building, and FCF will facilitate independent audits as well as improvement process for the agencies working with INFISA.
The Fair Hiring Initiative (TFHI) – FCF is now aligning the RRP’s requirement with the On the Level (OTL) standard initiative by the TFHI. The RRP also aims to help recruiting agencies to improve and eventually be certified with OTL.
Liuhuang Li-chuan / Associate Professor and Chairperson, Department of Labor Relations, National Chung Cheng University – To seek expert advice on labor issues, FCF regularly invites Professor Liuhuang to conduct exchange meetings on this project.
First Phase Report
In November 2023, FCF is pleased to present the initial findings of the first phase of our comprehensive program, focusing on responsible recruitment practices within our seafood supply chain. This report encapsulates the outcomes of two critical areas: collaboration with key stakeholders, particularly INFISA, to enhance recruitment practices for sending agents in Indonesia, and the assessment of receiving agents in Taiwan using the On The Level (OTL) standard, aimed at improving ethical standards and operational effectiveness.
This introductory report sets the stage for FCF’s commitment to responsible recruitment practices, paving the way for a comprehensive exploration of the findings and recommendations. It guides the seafood supply chain towards a path of continuous improvement.
More Information of Responsible Recruitment Project
June 22, 2022
FCF Hosts Responsible Recruitment Training For Improving Crew Recruitment Process in Indonesia
April 29, 2022
FCF hosts Focus Group and Panel Discussion with Its Supply Chain Partners & Scholar, The Party Takes a Deep Dive into Foreign Crew Members’ Salary Structure Enhancement in Distant Water Fishery
October 28, 2021
FCF Invites Stakeholders to Workshop for Ensuring Fair Recruitment Process
