Skip to main content
Home

User Menu

  • Perspective
  • Log in

Main menu

  • Home
  • About ETI
    • Our members
      • Previous members
    • What we do
      • Resolving violations
    • Why we exist
      • ETI's origins
    • Our impact on workers
    • Accountability
    • Funding
    • Our strategy
    • Our team
      • ETI Board members
    • Contact
  • ETI Base Code
    • 1. Employment is freely chosen
    • 2. Freedom of association
    • 3. Working conditions are safe and hygienic
    • 4. Child labour shall not be used
    • 5. Living wages are paid
    • 6. Working hours are not excessive
    • 7. No discrimination is practiced
    • 8. Regular employment is provided
    • 9. No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
  • Programmes
  • Join ETI
    • How to apply
    • What members sign up to
    • The business case
  • Training
    • All courses
    • Essentials of ethical trade series
    • Human rights due diligence series
    • China series
    • ETI trainers
    • Bespoke training
  • Resources
    • Case studies
    • Newsletters
    • Useful links
  • Issues
    • Union rights at work
    • COVID-19
    • Modern slavery
      • Modern slavery and transparency standards
      • Modern slavery initiatives
      • Modern slavery resources
      • Modern slavery evaluation framework
    • Due diligence
      • ETI’s work on human rights due diligence
        • ETI’s work in Pakistan
        • Pakistan, labour rights resources
      • Resources on human rights due diligence
    • Public procurement & responsible business
    • Company purchasing practices
      • Working conditions in the Leicester garment industry
    • Grievance mechanisms & remedy
    • Gender equity
      • Gender equality - initiatives
      • Gender equality - international standards
      • Gender equality - resources
    • A living wage for workers
      • Living wage initiatives
      • Living wage resources
      • Living wage standards
      • Wages and purchasing theories
    • Business and human rights in India
    • Child labour
    • Homeworkers
    • Migrant workers
    • HIV at work
    • Ethical trade and fairtrade
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Ethical Insights series

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Blog

Nick Kightley on the sentencing, after a 6 year campaign, of a Taiwanese boat captain for the murder of 4 workers

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Nick Kightley
  • 4 February 2021

Reports this week highlighted the sentencing by Taiwanese law enforcement of a fishing boat captain who allegedly ordered the murder of four unarmed men

The report shows that – in exceptional cases - there can be a form of justice, but it also shows how near impossible it can be for that justice to be served. In this case, it took six years for the authorities to take action.

We do not have effective investigation and remedy mechanisms in place across the global fisheries industry and it is extremely rare for such a conviction to be funded, followed through and achieved.

After years of battling, this provides no justice for the families of the four dead men and little confidence that such crimes will be prosecuted in the future, or that the perpetrators will be convicted.

While this captain’s actions certainly led to the deaths, one has to consider to what extent this was part of a much bigger culture of abuse and exploitation that continues unchecked within the fishing industry. Was no-one responsible for overseeing the actions of this individual? What about the States, international bodies and business that failed to act? And grievance and remedy mechanisms which, when tested, prove wholly inadequate?

I feel only shame and sadness – no satisfaction – at reading through this case.

Comments

ETI's blog covers issues at the intersection of business, news and ethical trade. We welcome a range of insights and opinions from our guest bloggers, though don't necessarily agree with everything they say.

Stay up to date

Stay up to date with the latest from ETI via the following channels:
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Blog RSS

Related content

  • MSIs call for international action to protect Myanmar’s half a million garment workers
  • Myanmar MSI Public Statement
  • A new vision for the garment industry. What next?
  • ETI joins call for rethink by PM on aid cuts
  • Covid-19: ETI key partner in new FCDO fund to keep vulnerable workers safe and keep supply chains moving
  • Let’s leave no place to hide for suppliers who still use unlicensed labour

Get the latest

Subscribe to our email newsletters and stay up to speed on ethical trade.
Subscribe

ETI elsewhere

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Footer

  • Accessibility
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Jobs at ETI
  • Press resources
  • Privacy
  • Modern slavery statement
Other ETIs: Denmark, Norway, Sweden
Ethical Trading Initiative | Registered No. 3578127