Global Dialogue Forum for the Promotion of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No.188)

The objective of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) is to ensure that fishers have decent conditions of work on board fishing vessels with regard to minimum requirements for work on board, conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health protection, medical care and social security.

A Global Dialogue Forum for the promotion of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) is being convened at the ILO headquarters in Geneva from 15 to 17 May 2013. The purpose is to:

• discuss challenges in the implementation of the Convention;
• share good practices and experiences with the implementation of the Convention;
• discuss how the Convention can be used as a tool to address major challenges in the industry;
• to report on and review promotional activities; and
• to provide some information on national efforts to promote, implement and ratify the Convention.

The Global Dialogue Forum will be attended by employer and worker representatives as nominated by their respective groups of the ILO’s Governing Body. All governments have been invited to send representatives, with countries with significant fishing interests being particularly encouraged to attend. The Forum will adopt points of consensus and will make recommendations for follow-up actions by the International Labour Organization and its Members.

An Issues paper (The Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188): Getting on board) has been prepared by the Office as a basis for discussions at the meeting. It covers:

• an overview of the fishing sector;
• the conditions of work in fishing;
• the development of the Convention;
• the promotional activities of the Office and lessons learned from promoting other standards;
• an overview of the constituents’ actions to promote and implement the Convention; and
• the application of the Convention to address major challenges facing the industry.

Some of the major challenges which may be discussed are outlined in the Issues paper. They include:

• the image of the fishing industry;
• occupational safety and health (OSH);
• conditions of work on small fishing vessels;
• forced labour;
• child labour;
• conditions of work of migrant fishers;
• illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and
• food security.

A number of materials and tools have been produced by the Office and are referred to in the Issues paper.

• C188 Work in Fishing Convention, 2007
• R199 Work in Fishing Recommendation, 2007
• Guidelines for port State control officers carrying out inspections under the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
• Handbook for improving living conditions on board fishing vessels
• Guideline to undertake a comparative analysis of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) and national laws, regulations or other measures
• Frequently Asked Questions: Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)
• Decent Working Conditions, Safety and Social Protection – Work in Fishing Convention No. 188 and Recommendation No. 199
• Training Manual on the Implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)