The pandemic was slowly easing, but suddenly many asymptomatic confirmed cases were detected in various parts of the country. The public began to panic again, as if returning to the third-level pandemic alert last year. Many foreign migrant workers have been infected with asymptomatic infections, mainly due to the clustering of dormitories, which highlights that the environment of migrant workers makes pandemic prevention easy to break, and it is necessary to carefully examine the living conditions of migrant workers.
Foreign fishermen live and work in groups, because the way of working in the marine fishing industry must be done by teamwork. When they rest after finishing work, they can only rest together in the cabin. All foreign fishermen live on the boat, and few employers provide dormitories on land. Even if there are dormitories, they are in the same large space, which is difficult for them to have personal space and privacy.
Before the pandemic is completely over, Rerum Novarum Center always continues to collect anti-pandemic materials from the public, mainly to avoid sudden pandemic situations. The center always collects anti- pandemic materials for fishermen through various channels. In each outreach service, we provide pandemic prevention materials to foreign fishermen, and continue to promote pandemic prevention concepts and awareness.
Due to the sudden tension of the pandemic, the fishermen's action service team brought the collected anti-pandemic materials to foreign fishermen in the Keelung area, where the pandemic was relatively tense. The team also promote the concept of pandemic prevention by informing the current situation of the oandemic, so that fishermen can understand, reduce unnecessary going out to reduce the risk of infection. Due to the heavy rain, the delivery of materials was challenging. However, in order to assist foreign fishermen to have sufficient pandemic prevention materials and correct pandemic prevention concepts, the service team used the least manpower to reduce the risk of mutual infection and let foreign fishermen in Keelung have a clear understanding of the outbreak and know how to respond.
When the fishermen of the fishing port saw that the service team came with anti-pandemic materials, they confirmed to the service team whether the pandemic situation in Keelung was as serious as the Internet information. The commissioner promoted the details and concepts of pandemic prevention to the fishermen, and told the fishermen that although the situation was a little nervous, they did not need to panic, as long as they protect themselves and help the fellow countrymen around them to prevent the pandemic, and remind each other to wear masks at all times, wash hands and disinfect frequently, and avoid unnecessary going out. If you go out and return, you must immediately clean and disinfect, because there are many asymptomatic diagnoses in this pandemic. When you feel unwell, you should notify your employer or agent, keep your distance from your fellow countrymen and avoid being in the same space, and go to the hospital as fast as possible to have a doctor check to see if you are infected or just general discomfort.
In the long run, the fishermen is a group who has been ignored. In 2017, Rerum Novarum reach these people. We not only concern about their lives but help them solve the problem about regulation, salary payment, job accident, employers changing, human trafficking, and so on. We went to 21 ports and solve the practical problems of the fishermen. Due to the language barrier, we see many fishermen do not know how to ask for help and bear the difficult working environment instead. They are working day and night with the thin salary. We are looking forward to your help and hope your can be the protector for the foreign migrants. Press “I want to donate.” or call (02)2397-1933 #122. Thanks for your attention!