Focus Taiwan
Date: 01/01/2021
By: Yang Shu-min and Frances Huang

Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) A Taiwanese labor broker has been fined NT$1 million (US$35,088) by the Fisheries Agency for deducting too much from the pay of eight migrant fishery workers for the repayment of loans.

Lin Kou-ping (林國平), deputy head of the Fisheries Agency, said his agency found that the labor broker deducted an extra US$100 from the pay of each of the eight workers, who worked on the Lien Yi Hsing No. 12 fishing boat.

That resulted in the NT$1 million fine under Taiwan's Act for Distant Water Fisheries that was imposed on Sept. 28, 2020, but only announced by the Fisheries Agency on Friday.

The agency addressed the issue after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a withhold release order (WRO) against the Lien Yi Hsing No. 12 on Thursday to bar the entry of its harvest into the United States.    [FULL  STORY]