Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/06/29
By: Chiang Chin-yeh and Y.F. Low

Washington, June 28 (CNA) Taiwan has obtained a top-tier ranking for the ninth consecutive year in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report released by the U.S. State Department on Thursday.

Taiwan was listed in the Tier 1 category because its authorities fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, the 2018 report said.

It said that in the past year, Taiwan continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts such as sharply increasing the number of trafficking prosecutions, identifying a significantly higher number of victims and providing improved service for such persons compared with previous years.

However, the report said, the separation of purview between the Ministry of Labor and the Fisheries Agency continued to impede efforts to address forced labor on Taiwan-flagged and -owned fishing vessels in the highly vulnerable distant water fleet.
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