Penghu establishes prayer room for foreign fishermen, fostering friendly fishery and human rights environment

Penghu County has established a prayer room for foreign fishermen, aiming to create a more welcoming environment for the fishing industry and uphold human rights. This initiative, supported by the Fisheries Agency and actively pursued by the Penghu District Fishermen's Association with assistance from the Penghu County Government, provides foreign workers with a secure space for prayer and spiritual reflection.

The prayer room offers foreign fishermen, who are far from home and work arduous hours at sea, a place to find solace in their religious beliefs. This effort underscores the government's dedication to protecting the human rights and religious freedoms of foreign laborers, thereby cultivating a more supportive atmosphere within the fishing sector. It acknowledges the significant contributions of foreign fishermen to Penghu's industry.

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The establishment of the prayer room allows fishermen to pray, relieve stress, and combat homesickness during their rest periods, contributing to their emotional stability and overall well-being during demanding sea operations.

Yan Defu, Secretary-General of the Penghu District Fishermen's Association, emphasized that religious faith is a crucial source of spiritual support for many. The prayer room allows fishermen to pray, relieve stress, and combat homesickness during their rest periods, contributing to their emotional stability and overall well-being during demanding sea operations. He expressed gratitude to the Fisheries Agency and the county government for their cooperation.

Yan also appealed for continued support from the Fisheries Agency for local fishermen and urged the Ministry of Labor to review the "zero-fee for fishermen" policy and the "Employment Stabilization Fund System." He seeks a more equitable cost-sharing mechanism that balances the rights of foreign fishermen with the operational burdens faced by local fishermen, ultimately fostering a more sustainable and harmonious fishing environment for all stakeholders.

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This is not just about providing a place of worship, but also conveys Taiwan's respect, care, and inclusivity towards foreign fishermen.