On June 26, the China Steel Express Union convened a press conference at the Legislative Yuan with the theme: “Protecting Native Professionals' Employment Rights to Prevent National Security Crisis.” Special thanks to Democratic Progressive Party legislators Lin Yi-chin, Huang Shih-chieh, Hong Shen-han, and People's Party legislator Lai Hsiang-ling for their collaborative efforts in organizing the event with the Taoyuan Pilot Union and the International Airport Workers' Federation. The conference aimed to address concerns about the employment pilots and seafarers from foreign nations, emphasizing the potential risks to national security and flight safety while advocating for the safeguarding of employment rights for native professionals.
Chairperson Li Hsin-yen and I, representing the maritime and aviation industries, address the crisis of mass foreign employment. We urgently call on the government to regulate the excessive hiring of seafarers from China, preserving jobs for Taiwanese talent and ensuring national resilience in the face of geopolitical uncertainties.
The committee members unanimously supported this argument, offering the following perspectives:
- Lin Yi-chin emphasized that seafarers from China aren't enemies, but caution is warranted in the current geopolitical climate. Lin underscored the importance of the maritime industry to national security and advocated prioritizing the Taiwanese workforce over outsiders.
- Hong Shen-han expressing concern about the personnel imbalance in domestic shipping. With 5,300 Chinese seafarers compared to only 1,200 Taiwanese out of 8,000 in local companies, Hong raised national security concerns linked to foreign-flagged vessels and seafarers. He called for the Maritime Port Bureau to take responsibility and conduct necessary inspections.
- Huang Shih-chieh called out the Ministry of Transportation, stating that the shipping industry is a specialized industry, and the reserve of personnel is crucial for the country. The competent authority should actively regulate and monitor it. Huang also expressed the need to prioritize the employment rights of domestic seafarers and reasonably suspected that the extensive use of foreign labor is an attempt to weaken the union.
- Lai Hsiang-ling highlighted a persistent issue with the Employment Service Act, noting an unbalanced focus on high-end jobs with inadequate control and excessive protection for low-end jobs. She specifically criticized the authority's bias, pointing out a perception that favors foreigners and foreign policies, overlooking the capabilities of Taiwanese seafarers. Lai urged a thorough review of the authority's approach, emphasizing the need for the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Labor to engage in discussions with the union.
The committee members' statements align with the longstanding stance of the China Steel Express Union, emphasizing the government's responsibility to prioritize the welfare of Taiwanese seafarers. However, the director of China Steel Group, appointed by the government, significantly hires seafarers from China, thereby limiting job opportunities for Taiwanese seafarers. We urge the company to acknowledge this reality and take steps to restore job opportunities to Taiwanese seafarers.
Taiwan heavily relies on imported resources, and as per the National Defense Mobilization Preparation Act, commercial vessels are considered strategically controlled resources in wartime. China Steel Express, a government-operated subsidiary of CSG, is responsible for transporting materials and steel products for export. Despite its significant revenue and profit, it extensively hires Chinese seafarers by transferring national-flagged vessels to Panamanian flags, resulting in job loss for many Taiwanese seafarers. This violates the social responsibility of government-owned enterprises. In the event of escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, these "convenience ships" won't be subject to government requisition. Moreover, an increasing number of Chinese seafarers may lead to a critical national security crisis, impacting Taiwan's commercial shipping operations.
Therefore, the union strongly urges the competent authorities to strictly monitor the issue of vessel flagging, rectify the serious national security issues arising from the misuse of Chinese seafarers in the shipping industry, and safeguard the employment rights of Taiwanese seafarers.
Here are six press statements from China Steel Express and the corresponding feedback from the union:
- China Steel Express:
Regarding seafarer qualifications, training, certification, and welfare, they must comply with the provisions of the STCW 2010 Convention, the Maritime Labour Convention, and the International Labour Organization conventions. These regulations do not prohibit the use of foreign seafarers. In recent years, the number of seafarers from major vessel-flagging countries such as Japan, Greece, and Germany has decreased. Considering the minimum crew requirements for vessel operations, it has become a trend in the shipping industry to assign foreign seafarers through crew management companies to ensure the smooth operation of vessels. This not only reflects industry trends but also safeguards the rights and interests of ship owners and seafarers.
CSE Union Feedback:
The union emphasizes the national security crisis arising from the employment of Chinese seafarers, irrespective of international conventions. Arguments based on the absence of a convention against foreign seafarers should acknowledge the lack of a prohibition on their non-use. The fixation on this point is futile. As for the company's assertion about a decline in seafarers from major vessel-flagging countries, such as Japan, Greece, and Germany, it is important to note that the shortage of seafarers in those countries doesn't relate to Taiwan. The reality is that Taiwanese seafarers face limited onshore employment opportunities, and cadet internships are scarce. Relying on foreign circumstances to inform domestic policies without considering our own reality blurs the distinction between foreign and Taiwanese shipping companies.
- China Steel Express:
An article in the Chinese Seafarers' Union Monthly (Issue 747) titled "International Development of Taiwanese Seafarers" notes a shortage of Taiwanese seafarers. Major domestic shipping companies reportedly employ around 15% Taiwanese seafarers, with the remaining 85% sourced through foreign crew management companies. In contrast, CSE has only about 10% foreign seafarers, making it the domestic company with the highest proportion of Taiwanese seafarers, as per the January 2016 data.
CSE Union's feedback:
We question the relevance of data from Issue 747, dated January 2016, and urges the company to provide more current data for a meaningful comparison with the union's April 2023 data.
- China Steel Express:
Mainland China seafarers operate on Panamanian-flagged vessels owned by China Steel Express. Deviating from the instructions of international crew management companies, which serve major shipping clients, could harm their reputation. Hijacking or illegally altering the route of these vessels is considered piracy, inviting inspections and arrests by other countries' naval vessels. Our country's navy is capable of preventing such actions. Additionally, China Steel Corp. has secure inventories of raw materials stored in self-owned or chartered vessels, providing risk mitigation.
CSE Union's feedback:
In wartime, hijacking and altering a vessel's course violate international law, but the China government’s adherence to conventions is uncertain. The ongoing dispute about the status of the Taiwan Strait complicates whether friendly naval vessels would assist in "inspections and arrests." Intercepting a vessel during course alteration is challenging. While the union hopes the navy can proactively prevent such incidents, CSE has no stand to claim about the navy's capabilities. Additionally, wartime recalls and evacuations pose challenges, with foreign seafarers impacting domestic employment. The shipping industry's capacity to support wartime transportation after such evacuations needs consideration.
- China Steel Express:
In recent years, China Steel Express built eight new vessels, all registered under the Taiwanese flag. In 2016 and 2017, five Panamanian-flagged vessels were gradually converted to Taiwanese-flagged vessels. From 2021, due to COVID-19-related crew deployment challenges, CSE temporarily converted five Taiwanese-flagged vessels back to Panamanian flags, assigning foreign seafarers through crew management companies for smooth operations. As of the end of May this year, CSE had approximately 545 crew members, with only 10.3% (63 individuals) being Taiwanese seafarers, and nearly 90% were foreign seafarers. Despite this, the percentage of Taiwanese-flagged vessels in CSE remains the highest among major domestic ocean carriers, indicating a discrepancy with the union's claim.
CSE Union’s Feedback:
The statement confirms recent instances of converting vessel registration from Taiwanese to foreign flags, while the conversion from foreign to Taiwanese flags occurred five years ago. After registering under foreign flags, the company employed a significant number of Chinese seafarers, a point not denied in its statement. Instead of fixating on being a leader, the company should consider improvements. We would like to emphasize CSE’s social responsibility as a state-owned subsidiary of China Steel. Regardless of the scale, its actions set an example for peers, influencing collective development or decline.
- China Steel Express:
CSE employs foreign seafarers through crew management companies, adhering to the "Regulations for the Employment and Management of Foreign Seafarers" by the Maritime Port Bureau. Among CSE's 10 Panamanian-flagged vessels, 67% of crew members are Taiwanese seafarers. For its 12 Taiwanese-flagged vessels, Taiwanese seafarers constitute 98.4%, with only 4 Indonesian seafarers. The number of Taiwanese seafarers operating for CSE decreased from 78 to 63 this year, contradicting the union's claim that a large number of Chinese seafarers replaced Taiwanese counterparts.
CSE Union’s Feedback:
In today's press release, it's stated that Chinese seafarers make up nearly 40% of CSE's vessels, contradicting the press release itself, which acknowledges it as 33%. This discrepancy affirms the union's statement. The press release also doesn't refute the union's claim that China Steel Transport Corporation employed only 51 Taiwanese seafarers on five Panamanian-flagged vessels since 2015, while hiring as many as 45 Chinese seafarers. This suggests the company is aware of the truth but aims to confuse the public with other data.
The decrease in Taiwanese seafarers from 78 to 63 for CSE is attributed to the sale of two vessels this year. Last year, the number of Chinese seafarers employed nearly reached a hundred, rendering the press release devoid of substance.
- China Steel Express:
The CSE Union's concern about the potential misuse of shipping information by Chinese seafarers seems unwarranted. Such information, including shipping routes and cargo details, is readily available from public sources like ship information websites.
CSE Union's feedback:
The management and operation of vessels vary significantly between wartime and peacetime. During wartime, the coordination between vessels and various agencies exposes captains and crew members to national defense information, a category distinct from routine information about routes and cargo. The company's approach to national security, primarily viewed through a commercial lens, highlights a disparity in communication frequency and depth between the union and the company. We strongly urge the company to prioritize and address this matter with the seriousness it deserves.
The union's focus extends beyond CSE; today's national security concerns encompass all shipping companies and national maritime policies. While the union acknowledges that CSE cannot shoulder the responsibility for the entire shipping industry, its current practices, involving a significant number of convenience vessels and extensive employment of Chinese seafarers, have raised concerns. As a responsible organization, the union advocates for measures that benefit Taiwanese society. We hope CSE will make the appropriate decision and alter its course.
The current incident has triggered a notable chain reaction, especially when compared to local news in Kaohsiung, often subject to censorship by China Steel. Importantly, this event has gained extensive coverage across national media outlets, including the following news channels:
民視-【中運大量聘用中籍船員？ 工會憂恐釀國安危機】
https://www.ftvnews.com.tw/news/detail/2023626L11M1
聯合-【外籍機師、船員多 立委呼籲保障國人就業權】
https://udn.com/news/story/7266/7259016
壹蘋-【台海出事叫得動嗎？66%船員中國籍釀國安危機 民團要政府保障國人就業權】
https://tw.nextapple.com/./app_zhongyun/views/web/3B18CD1F35E6FB12CC2A4B8EED4D...
CTWANT-【濫用外籍機師、船員 立委：恐釀國安、飛安危機】
https://www.ctwant.com/article/265492
中時-【海空都淪陷！ 工會批外籍機師、陸籍船員侵占本國籍工作權】
https://www.chinatimes.com/realt./app_zhongyun/views/web/20230626001898-260407...
電視新聞-三立-【不滿濫用外籍船員 工會憂"國安危機"戰時船隻召不回港? 航港局:納編數已達軍方要求】
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE2qHQxx3Yo
電視新聞-華視-【工會控機師.船員濫用外籍 恐釀國安飛安危機】
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZ35cCJEWQ
電視新聞-華視-【工會控機師.船員濫用外籍 恐釀國安飛安危機】
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZ35cCJEWQ
