ILO Fisheries vote ‘a victory for embattled crews’

14 June 2007. For immediate release

ILO Fisheries vote ‘a victory for embattled crews’

The ITF has given a warm and immediate welcome to the vote just announced at the ILO to adopt the Work in Fishing Convention - for which it and its affiliated unions have campaigned for several years.

The vote was 437 for the convention, two against, and 22 abstentions.

Speaking from the vote in Geneva, ITF Seafarers’ Section Secretary Jon Whitlow commented: “Two years ago the ILO Fisheries Convention failed to be adopted on a technicality, being one vote short of the quorum. Since then we’ve redoubled our efforts to get the protection for fishing crews through social dialogue with responsible employers and concerned governments.

“This vote is a major step towards gaining decent work for fishers and setting an international minimum standard for the sector. It should also provide a tool to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and prevent some of the worst abuses that we know take place within this sector*. The work does not stop now – we need to ensure that the convention is ratified and implemented and makes a real difference to fishers in their workplace.”

Also in Geneva earlier in the week was ITF General Secretary David Cockroft, who addressed the International Labour Conference before the vote (full speech available on request from dawson_sam@itf.org.uk ). Speaking in favour of the convention, he told the assembly: “There are many ITF unions here today representing workers in the fishing sector. They have worked tirelessly for many years to bring this convention to a successful conclusion. Fishers desperately need this convention. Fishing is the most dangerous industry on earth. It also has some of the nastiest conditions. We have documented examples of some fishing boat owners responding to organising efforts by crews by throwing those responsible into the sea.

“We still need you here for the final record vote, so please don’t rush to catch your plane home this time. We are confident that we will have a strongly supported and effective fisheries standard. The ILO then needs to put sufficient resources into the campaign for widespread ratification and implementation of the Maritime Convention, the Fisheries Convention and Convention 185 on Seafarers Identity Documents, which is vital to making decent work compatible with effective security.”

*Abuses in the fishing sector have been detailed in ITF reports such as Out of Sight, Out of Mind, and The Changing Nature of High Seas Fishing (both downloadable at http://www.itfglobal.org/infocentre/pubs.cfm )

ENDS

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