TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi met with Chinese Ambassador for the Republic of Indonesia Xiao Qian, on Thursday, May 7, in talks about the livelihood of Indonesian ship crews aboard four Chinese fishing vessels over suspected mistreatments.

The concern for the working conditions came to light after the deaths of four Indonesian ship crews; three perished at sea while one died at the Busan hospital in South Korea.

Retno demanded the Chinese authority to conduct further investigation on four ships involved in the incident, including related to working conditions and treatment aboard the ship. The four ships are the Long Xin 605, Tian Yu 8, Longxin 629, and Longxin 606.

There are a total of 46 Indonesian ship crews working on board the ships.

"We requested the Chinese authority to conduct an investigation. If the investigation result proves that there are violations, we demand the Chinese authority to enforce the law fairly," Retno said.

As of now, 8 Indonesian crews aboard Long Xin 605 and 3 aboard the Tian Yu fishing ships have been returned home on April 24. The 14 Indonesian crews aboard the Longxin 629 who are currently under quarantine at a hotel in Busan are also scheduled to return tomorrow with the body of a crew that passed away on April 27.

Eighteen Indonesian ship crews aboard the Longxin 602 have also returned to Indonesia while two more are awaiting permits from South Korea’s immigration.

“We expect the support from the Chinese government in terms of the wages that have not been paid and also ensuring a safer work environment for the future,” said Minister Retno Marsudi on Thursday’s virtual press conference.

DEWI NURITA