On 21 May, ETF, Europêche and Cogeca will sign an agreement to transpose into EU law ILO Convention 188, which aims to provide worldwide access to decent working and living conditions for fishermen.
The agreement demonstrates a pledge of the European social partners in favour of enhanced working and living conditions of fishermen onboard vessels flying EU flags and vessels calling at European ports, regardless of their flag and the nationality of the crew.
It comprises minimum requirements for working onboard, conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health protection, medical care and social security, as defined in the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No 188).
By signing this agreement, the European partners aim to encourage Member States to ratify the Convention and complete a European and global level playing field on the matter.
They also wish to give a strong signal to the governments and fishing sectors of ILO Member States from outside the EU, on the need to ratify the Convention as soon as possible. Moreover, once the Convention is transposed into EU law, infringements detected in EU ports and waters will be subject to the rule of the European Court of Justice.
Once the legal assessment of the agreement has neared completion, the social partners will request that the Commission proposes a Council Directive, through which the requirements of the agreement will be implemented in EU law.
The ETF represents more than 2.5 million transport workers, Europêche represents the fisheries sector in Europe, and Cogeca is the united voice of agricultural cooperatives in the EU.
