Fishing Industry Convention To Protect Seafarers

Ireland Fishing

The International Transport Workers Federation co-ordinator for Ireland and Britain, Ken Fleming, has welcomed the decision of that body to publish a Guide to the International Labour Organisation’s Fishing Convention and its call on governments to ratify it.

“The recent tragedies in Irish waters have highlighted the need for the convention to be ratified by the Irish Government as soon as possible”, he said. “Unfortunately efforts over recent years by the ITF to secure the voluntary co-operation of the Irish fishing industry in improving standards have not been successful”. He also called on the Irish Government to ratify the ILO Convention, which was adopted in 2007 but cannot become operative until it is ratified by ten member states (including eight with coastlines) and this target has not yet been reached.

The ITF will launch its free guide for Fishers and trade unions representing them tomorrow. Available in Arabic, English, French, Indonesian, Spanish and Tamil, the guide explains how the convention can help fishers worldwide, and why it is important for unions to persuade governments to ratify it.

Jon Whitlow, ITF fisheries section secretary, said today, “Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous and unregulated types of work there is. The ILO Work in Fishing Convention 2007 aims to ensure that fishers worldwide have access to decent working and living conditions. Convention 188 was a landmark – but it needs to be backed and understood. This guide sets out to explain it from a user’s perspective, and why it needs support.

“This publication is intended to assist unions, their members, and anyone else interested in improving the lives and safety conditions of those working in this often dangerous industry. It will provide them with a deeper understanding of why the convention is necessary so that they can lobby more effectively for its ratification.”

The provisions of the ILO Fishing Convention include:

Responsibilities of fishing vessel owners and skippers
Minimum wage provisions
Minimum rest periods
Minimum crewing levels
Signed employment agreements
Social Security provision and medical cover
Adequate accommodation and food
Right to repatriation when contract ends