Countries adopt important decision on labour standards on fishing vessels operating in South Pacific high seas
During the 12th Commission Meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO), Decision 19-2024, which was supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), was adopted. The decision aims to promote decent working conditions for fishers on board fishing vessels from the 17 member countries operating in the South Pacific high seas.
5 February 2024
Manta – On the1st of February, the Commission of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) adopted Decision 19-2024, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of labour standards in the fishing sector.
The Decision, sponsored by Australia, the United States and New Zealand and supported by the ILO, will promote decent working conditions for fishers on board fishing vessels from the 17 country members of the SPRFMO that operate in the South Pacific high seas.
During the 12th meeting of the SPRFMO, Fabián Vallejo, the national officer of the ILO’s project "Strengthening decent work in the fisheries sector in Ecuador and Peru", which is supported by the US Department of Labor, emphasized that "labour violations and crimes such as forced labour can occur concurrently with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices. This underscores the significance of paying attention to precarious working conditions and potential violations of fundamental principle and rights at work in this sector, including forced labour and child labour on board fishing vessels, among other issues”
The ILO also welcomed Ecuador's initial proposal to create a working group on labour standards and emphasized the relevance of the decision finally adopted.
The Decision encourages members to adopt measures into their national legislation to establish minimum standards for regulating crew labour conditions on fishing vessels flying their flag and operating within the SPRFMO Convention Area, in line with the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the Work in Fishing Convention 2007 (No. 188).
The Decision promotes the following labour standards:
"This decision reaffirms the commitment of the SPRFMO to the sustainability of the fishing sector," noted ILO's National Officer, Fabian Vallejo
The ILO is ready to support SPRFMO members through specialized technical assistance and the exchange of relevant international experiences.
The Decision, sponsored by Australia, the United States and New Zealand and supported by the ILO, will promote decent working conditions for fishers on board fishing vessels from the 17 country members of the SPRFMO that operate in the South Pacific high seas.
During the 12th meeting of the SPRFMO, Fabián Vallejo, the national officer of the ILO’s project "Strengthening decent work in the fisheries sector in Ecuador and Peru", which is supported by the US Department of Labor, emphasized that "labour violations and crimes such as forced labour can occur concurrently with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices. This underscores the significance of paying attention to precarious working conditions and potential violations of fundamental principle and rights at work in this sector, including forced labour and child labour on board fishing vessels, among other issues”
The ILO also welcomed Ecuador's initial proposal to create a working group on labour standards and emphasized the relevance of the decision finally adopted.
The Decision encourages members to adopt measures into their national legislation to establish minimum standards for regulating crew labour conditions on fishing vessels flying their flag and operating within the SPRFMO Convention Area, in line with the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the Work in Fishing Convention 2007 (No. 188).
The Decision promotes the following labour standards:
- the absence of forced labour; trafficking in persons, or any other form of involuntary or compulsory labour;
- a work environment that is safe and secure, presenting minimal risk to health and well-being;
- fair terms of employment, which are enshrined in a written contract or other equivalent means, and which are made available to the employee, and which have been mutually agreed upon by the employee;
- decent working and living conditions onboard vessels, including access to sufficient drinking water and food, operational safety protection and medical care, and that facilitate acceptable standards of sanitary hygiene;
- access to appropriate safety equipment onboard vessels and the requirement for adequate safety training in accordance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) safety training standards and ILO safety and health standards for fishing;
- regular and decent remuneration as well as appropriate insurance for the crew no less favourable than the flag members domestic laws and regulations; and
- the opportunity for crew members to disembark and seek repatriation if so entitled.
"This decision reaffirms the commitment of the SPRFMO to the sustainability of the fishing sector," noted ILO's National Officer, Fabian Vallejo
“The sustainability of the fishing sector needs the integration of three fundamental elements: namely productivity, the environment and the people. In addition to discussing economic activity and environmental protection, it is also important to discuss decent work.
Fabián Vallejo, oficial nacional de OIT en Ecuador
The ILO is ready to support SPRFMO members through specialized technical assistance and the exchange of relevant international experiences.