Europêche and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) have called on all EU member states to urgently ratify the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C188).
The convention provides minimum standards to protect fishers in all aspects of their work.
Cor Blonk, Europêche representative, said: “While the EU is dithering with the ratification process we face unfair competition from those fleets which do not apply decent working conditions.”
He continued: “The social partners’ joint declaration is a wake-up call for national and European decision makers to engage in a meaningful dialogue with employers and trade unions and set the scene for effective EU fisheries policies.”
On 14 April in the Netherlands, a joint declaration was signed by the two social partners reminding the European Institutions about their responsibilities in this process.
Europêche and ETF welcomed the readiness expressed by the Presidency of the Council of the EU to work on the relevant Social Partners’ Agreement (SPA), which has been signed in 2012 but not yet presented before the Council.
Flemming Smidt, vice-chair of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee (SSDC) and ETF spokesperson, said: “It is imperative that the national governments improve their internal coordination and speed up the ratification of ILO C188.”
“Together with the European Union they play a crucial role in improving working and living conditions on board fishing vessels, not only in EU waters but on a global level.”
The joint renewal of agreement was in the presence of high-level representatives of the ILO, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and several EU member states.
Brandt Wagner, of the ILO, concluded: “The EU has the tools at hand to continue to play a leading role in deterring forced labour and other abuses at sea and to press for ratification and implementation of international standards for improving fishers’ working conditions.”
“It is encouraging to hear that the Dutch presidency of the EU is committed to moving forward with the work on the SPA, as this is critical to bringing the benefits of the Work in Fishing Convention to Europe and to promote decent work in the fishing sector worldwide.”
