Elements with tag C188
‘A fisher’s life, a fisher’s future’ has been the motto of the international conference organised by the Fishing Industry Safety and Health (FISH) Platform last week in Thailand. The FISH Platform is a world leading group of experts involved in safety and health in the fishing industry. Globally, most commercial fishers are located in the Southeast Asian region, characterised by a low level of ratification of international conventions aimed at protecting fishers’ health, safety and working conditions. The Platform considered it about time for public authorities, experts, employers and workers to come together to share experiences in the implementation of such conventions, social dialogue, and to jointly push for the sustainable management of the fishing industry. Europêche has joined the call.
During the plenary session of the European social dialogue committee for sea fisheries held last week, ETF and Europêche adopted a joint resolution establishing benchmark principles aimed at better regulating the proliferation of sustainability labels certifying social conditions on board fishing vessels. The intention is to avoid social-washing labels while stressing the importance of the ILO “Work in Fishing” Convention C188 as guardian of human and labour rights of fishers at sea, which cannot be replaced or substituted by private schemes.
European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and Europêche have published new Guidelines on the medical examinations of fishers, paving the way for the harmonisation of standards for health and fitness checks across Europe and worldwide.
The title perfectly summarises the message unanimously given by governments during the Ministerial Conference on Fishing Vessel Safety and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, organized by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the Government of Spain in Torremolinos this week. The Conference aims to promote the widespread adoption of the Cape Town Agreement (CTA), a key IMO treaty for safety of fishing vessels, which so far has not entered into force due to low ratification levels1. Thanks to the recent accession of Spain and the boost provided by the Conference, nearly 50 countries signed a Declaration to enhance safety at sea by promoting the entry into force of the CTA and combating IUU fishing.
On the occasion of the World Fisheries Day, the FAO and the Holy See joined forces once again to host a successful event focusing international attention on the fair treatment and well-being of fishers around the globe. Europêche, on behalf of the EU fishing industry, participated together with international organizations, government representatives, trade unions and relevant stakeholders in this year’s event titled ‘Labour rights are human rights: working together to ensure the rights of fishers – fighting trafficking and forced labour in the fishing sector’. United Nations specialized agencies in fisheries and their Member states were urged to work together to promote the ratification, implementation and enforcement of internationally agreed social standards to support the livelihoods of 38 million fishers in the planet.
On 9th November 2017, during their annual plenary meeting, the EU Social Partners in the fisheries sector (Europêche1 and ETF2) met with the specialised agencies of the United Nations which play a vital role in fishers’ safety at sea and working conditions. Representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) together with the European Commission (EC) and Social Partners laid the foundations for a comprehensive action plan to raise awareness and jointly promote worldwide all relevant international instruments on fisheries to ultimately improve safety and labour conditions.
Ayer, 28 de febrero de 2017, durante un seminario organizado por la Federación Europea de Trabajadores del Transporte (ETF) en el marco de la Semana Europea de la Navegación, Thierry Coquil, Director de Asuntos Marítimos de la Administración francesa, entregó un mensaje de Alain Vidalies, Secretario de Estado francés para el Transporte, que también incluyó preocupaciones sobre la pesca.
En su Asamblea General celebrada esta semana, Europêche confirmó el mandato de su Presidente, Javier Garat, por otros dos años. El Sr. Garat es Secretario General de CEPESCA, Confederación Española de Pesca.
En la sesión plenaria celebrada el 4 de noviembre de 2016, los interlocutores sociales de la UE en el sector pesquero * celebraron una reunión positiva con Karmenu Vella, Comisario de Medio Ambiente, Asuntos Marítimos y Pesca, para debatir los numerosos problemas apremiantes que afronta el sector pesquero; especialmente en materia de seguridad, salud y condiciones de trabajo en el mar.
Hoy en día, el Consejo de la UE aprobó una Directiva que regula las condiciones de trabajo en el sector pesquero, a raíz de una solicitud de larga data de los interlocutores sociales de la UE (la Federación Europea de Trabajadores del Transporte (ETF), Europêche * y Cogeca).
Hier, le 28 février 2017, lors d'un séminaire organisé par la Fédération européenne des travailleurs du transport (ETF) dans le cadre de la Semaine européenne de la navigation maritime, Thierry Coquil, Directeur des affaires maritimes de l'administration française, a envoyé un message du secrétaire d'État français pour les transports Alain Vidalies, qui comprenait également des préoccupations concernant la pêche.
Lors de son assemblée générale tenue cette semaine, Europêche a confirmé le mandat de son président, Javier Garat, pendant encore deux ans. M. Garat est secrétaire général du CEPESCA, la Confédération espagnole de la pêche.
Lors de la séance plénière tenue le 4 novembre 2016, les partenaires sociaux de l'UE dans le secteur de la pêche * ont eu une réunion positive avec Karmenu Vella, commissaire à l'environnement, aux affaires maritimes et aux pêches, pour discuter des nombreux problèmes urgents auxquels le secteur de la pêche est confronté; en particulier en ce qui concerne la sécurité, la santé et les conditions de travail en mer.
Aujourd'hui, le Conseil de l'UE a approuvé une directive réglementant les conditions de travail dans le secteur de la pêche, suite à une longue demande des partenaires sociaux de l'UE (la Fédération européenne des travailleurs du transport (ETF), Europêche * et Cogeca).
Yesterday, 28 February 2017, during a seminar organised by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) in the framework of the European Shipping Week, Thierry Coquil, Director for Maritime Affairs in the French administration, delivered a message of the French Secretary of State for Transport Alain Vidalies, which also included concerns on fisheries.
At its General Assembly held this week, Europêche confirmed the mandate of its President, Javier Garat, for another two years. Mr. Garat is Secretary General of CEPESCA, the Spanish Fishing Confederation.
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.
Today, the Council of the EU approved a Directive regulating working conditions in the fisheries sector, following a long-standing request from the EU Social Partners (the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), Europêche* and Cogeca).
Approximately 27.6 million people are enduring forced labor conditions across numerous industries and on every continent. In order to tackle this problem, the EU has reached a provisional deal on a Regulation prohibiting products made in violation of human and workers' rights on the EU market, including seafood. The political agreement brings about substantial modifications to the initial proposal, clarifying the roles of both the Commission and national competent authorities in the investigative and decision-making procedures. Europêche welcomes this institutional agreement and calls for a quick implementation of the system to effectively ban the trade of fish products deriving from forced labour, hand in hand with EU policies against illegal fishing (IUU).