Rights of fishery workers
Fishing vessel work carries a very high risk of fatal accidents. Never board without safety equipment.
Check before boarding
- That there is a life jacket for you — and that it fits.
- That emergency signalling and communication equipment exists.
- That the safety rules for the work have been explained.
- The employment contract — wages, hours, fishing period, accommodation.
- Whether seafarer or industrial accident insurance is in place — fishing crew may be covered by a separate scheme. Always confirm.
Rights that apply
- The full agreed wage — unpaid wages are reportable.
- Accident compensation — either fishing crew accident insurance or industrial accident insurance may apply. The schemes differ, so confirm which one covers you.
- No assault or forced labour — these are crimes. See forced-labor.
- No passport confiscation — the captain or company holding your passport is a problem. See passport-confiscation.
Particular dangers at sea
- Falls overboard — decks are slippery. Wear a life jacket at all times.
- Entanglement in gear and machinery — net haulers, winches.
- Fatigue from long operations
- Deteriorating weather — check the forecast before sailing.
- Isolation — some areas have no signal.
If problems arise
- Get advice while ashore. Help is hard to obtain at sea.
- Consult 1350 or 1577-0071.
- If there is assault or confinement, call 112. It may be trafficking or forced labour. See human-trafficking.
- If injured, create medical records and check the compensation procedure.
Where to go
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (with interpretation)
- 1577-0071 Foreign Workforce Support Centre
- 119 emergency · 112 assault and confinement
- 122 maritime incident reporting (Coast Guard)
- Local migrant workers' support centres
Questions people ask
The captain is holding my passport. Confiscating a passport is a problem. Demand its return, and if refused, consult 1577-0071 or 112. See passport-confiscation.
I want to leave the vessel. There are proper procedures. Consult 1577-0071 before absconding.
I don't know which insurance covers me. Check the contract and ask the company; if unclear, ask 1350. Finding out after an injury is too late.
I haven't been paid. While ashore, organise your records and file with 1350.
Take care
Never go on deck without a life jacket. Falling into the sea brings hypothermia within minutes. And keep your passport and phone on you. Losing those two removes every means of calling for help.
Related
forced-labor · passport-confiscation · human-trafficking · industrial-accident-basics · change-workplace-e9
Source
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries www.mof.go.kr / As of 2026-08