Elements with tag Labour
On Wednesday 10 May the European social partners* on sea-fisheries signed a resolution inviting the European Union (EU) to take up its responsibility and end forced labour practices in EU waters. Investigations executed by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) revealed serious infringements of fundamental principles at work and social protection rights of migrant fishers in a part of the EU’s fishing sector. The social partners expect the EU to ensure fulfilment by Member States of their obligations and to adopt guidelines for flag state and port state inspections to prevent such practices.
At the Plenary session held on 4th November 2016, the EU Social Partners in the fisheries sector* had a positive meeting with Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, to discuss the many pressing issues facing the fishing sector; particularly concerning safety, health and working conditions at sea.
Los interlocutores sociales europeos para la pesca, Europêche y la Federación Europea de Trabajadores del Transporte (ETF)*, llamaron a todos los Estados miembros de la UE a ratificar con urgencia el Convenio de la OIT ** que proporciona normas mínimas para proteger a los pescadores en todos los aspectos de su trabajo. En una declaración conjunta firmada el 14 de abril en La Haya, Países Bajos y los interlocutores sociales recordaron también las instituciones europeas sobre sus responsabilidades en este proceso. Los interlocutores sociales se han felicitado de la volontad de la Presidencia del Consejo de la UE para trabajar en el acuerdo de los interlocutores sociales (SPA), que ha sido firmado en 2012, pero aún no ha sido presentado ante el Consejo.
Almost three years after submitting the Social Partners’ Agreement (SPA) on implementing the ILO* Work in Fishing Convention C188, the European Commission (EC) presented today, 29th April 2016, the agreement before the Council of the EU. The European Social Partners for Fisheries, Europêche, Cogeca and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF)**, have warmly welcomed this step but regret the considerable delay with implementing the SPA that ensures a high level of protection for fishermen in all aspects of their work. The Social Partners call upon all EU Member States to support the proposal for a Council Directive and urge them to ratify ILO Convention 188.
The newly elected chair of the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries (PECH) Chris Davies (Renew Europe, UK), the Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), João Aguiar Machado, and DG MARE Director, Veronika Veits, were guests of honour at this week's Europêche General Assembly meeting to discuss the many pressing issues facing the fishing sector today.