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submitted 2 months ago by ptz@dubvee.org to c/technology@lemmy.world

Adrian Basar did not want to become a distant-water fisherman. With 22-hour workdays and pay of around 450 dollars per month, it’s not the most glamorous—or fulfilling, or generally safe—job.

But for 10 months out of the year, when he’s out at sea, Basar can’t talk to his siblings, or anyone in his family, because he’s not allowed to use the Wi-Fi on the ship.

“I think the companies that don’t want to put Wi-Fi on their ships pray for things not to be revealed,” Basar said. “There are many companies that don’t want Wi-Fi.”

A coalition between a self-organized Indonesian fishers’ union, a Taiwanese human rights group and multiple global labor organizations is trying to change that.

The “Wi-Fi Now for Fishers’ Rights” campaign, which has been organizing since 2023, wants to make Wi-Fi access a standard in the industry, both to help improve working conditions through union organizing and to allow the workers to have contact with other human beings for more than two months per year.

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[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 49 points 2 months ago

They should be asking for internet access rather than "WiFi", as WiFi is not synonymous with internet access

[-] rmuk@feddit.uk 24 points 2 months ago

"Here's your WiFi. Oh, you want the password? Next you'll be asking for DHCP."

[-] InverseParallax@lemmy.world 16 points 2 months ago

Thank you professor stallman.

[-] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 months ago

I've increasingly noticed this. It's irritating.

[-] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

To normies of course it is, they don't even know what the innernette is, they know WiFi though. I've even seen people call their cellular signal "phone WiFi" or "5G WiFi" and refer to a Cat5 Ethernet cable as a "WiFi cable".

[-] tal@lemmy.today 3 points 2 months ago

On one hand, yes. On the other hand, on a cell phone on a boat in the middle of nowhere with no congestion in the airwaves, it's probably by far the most practical.

[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 15 points 2 months ago

You can have WiFi without internet, as is the case on some boats and airplanes

[-] Anomalocaris@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago

if language changes like that then the problem is that while what they want is clear, what they might get is just a WiFi router in the boat so they can have WiFi but no internet.

also, expecting everyone to be technologically literate is just plain stupid, especially in poorer countries.

[-] qfe0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 41 points 2 months ago

The guy lost two fingers and did his own surgery over four days with nail clippers. WTF

[-] Iheartcheese@lemmy.world 28 points 2 months ago

how are they making so much less then what I make at walmart??

[-] CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee 72 points 2 months ago

Because Walmart isn't legally allowed to pay you what they really want to pay.

[-] h4x0r@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 months ago

Indonesian migrant fishermen who work for Taiwan’s massive fishing market

[-] StaticFalconar@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago

Because they live in a different country

[-] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 2 months ago

Because of the implication that something could go wrong if you didn't work for them on their boat.

[-] SatyrSack@feddit.org 6 points 2 months ago

Are these fishers in danger?

[-] kkj@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 months ago

Of course not! If they say no, the answer's no.

[-] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

Upvote for the It's always sunny reference.

[-] ilmagico@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

“We feel very isolated out there. We cannot ask for help, we cannot use our phones. But the captain is in charge, and the captain can use it. The only one that has access is the captain.”

So, boats already have wifi (and internet), in most cases, but fishermen are not allowed to use it. It's not a technical or cost issue, it's just.. they don't want the fishermen to communicate with the outside world

this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2025
208 points (98.1% liked)

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