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Slavery report shows we have a long way to go
CTU Media Release
20 June 2012
Hard hitting slavery report shows we have a long way to go
CTU Secretary, Peter Conway says a report by the US State Department on slavery released today, shows that New Zealand has some real areas for concern and that work is needed to address our shared concerns in the operation of foreign charter vessels in New Zealand.
The report identified that New Zealand is a destination for foreign workers, who are subjected to forced labour and other abuses on fishing boats and in the agricultural sector.
“The Report also clearly shows we need to strengthen our law on such matters as forced labour and make sure prosecutions can be mounted where necessary.”
Peter Conway said “union submissions to the Foreign Charter Vessels Inquiry last year highlighted the shocking treatment of workers, the need for more investment in on-shore processing and local jobs, and the harm to New Zealand’s international reputation. The recent decision following the Inquiry, to phase out Foreign Charter Vessels goes a long way to address the issues and concerns over the operation of FCVs in New Zealand waters.”
“The report today shows the importance of the work we are doing with the government in the area of foreign fishing vessels and the need to phase out Foreign Charter Vessels as soon as possible so that all ships catching our quota are flagged in New Zealand, and therefore subject to full compliance with our maritime and employment laws.”
“A lot of the focus has been on procedures that could be put into place for observers, or immigration rules, revised Codes, and other measures that would improve the working conditions for these workers. But what we also need is a structural change so that reliance of foreign charter vessels is removed. We want to work with the Government and the industry to make sure that this occurs alongside the phasing out of Foreign Charter Vessels,” says Peter Conway.
“We also support the report’s recommendation that New Zealand enact law to prohibit, and adequately punish all forms of human trafficking.”
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