The Illegal Use of North Korean Labor in Chinese Seafood Processing Plants

In February 2023, Donggang Jinhui Foodstuff, a seafood-processing company in China, celebrated its success with a lavish party. However, the company’s achievements were overshadowed by revelations of its use of North Korean workers in violation of UN sanctions.

A seafood trader estimated that Jinhui employed between fifty and seventy North Koreans, who are sent by their government to work in Chinese factories under harsh conditions to earn money for the state. Videos of the party posted online exposed the exploitation, sparking outrage in the global seafood market.

The Outlaw Ocean podcast’s second season uncovered the extent of the illegal labor practices, with footage and testimonials from North Korean workers detailing rampant sexual assault, violence, and isolation in Chinese seafood plants. The investigation also revealed the presence of over a thousand North Korean workers in fifteen seafood processing plants in China since 2017.

Global Response and Impact

The revelations prompted companies to reevaluate their supply chains, leading to some severing ties with plants connected to North Korean labor. Government bodies such as the Congressional and Executive Committee on China called for collaborative efforts to prevent seafood products processed by forced North Korean labor from being imported.

The European Parliament also raised concerns about imports tainted by state-sponsored forced labor. Despite these actions, the clandestine nature of North Korean labor poses challenges in eradicating this exploitation.

Continued Struggle Against Exploitation

The ongoing fight against the illegal use of North Korean labor in Chinese seafood processing plants highlights the need for sustained vigilance and cooperation among nations to uphold labor rights and combat human rights abuses.

Marcella Boehler, Global Publishing Editor at The Outlaw Ocean Project, emphasizes the importance of investigative journalism in exposing human rights violations and environmental concerns in the maritime domain. The Outlaw Ocean Project’s podcast series delves into these critical issues, shedding light on the hidden realities of our interconnected world.