Social issues on tuna vessels

Javier Garat

Sustainability

We usually talk about:

oFAD management plansoNon entangling FADo100% observer coverage: Humans and electronicoDocumentation validation: Logbooks and unloading controloGood practices validation by scientistsoStock status

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Today I´m going to talk about social issues:

oWork done by the EU social partners (Europêche + ETF) and

oWorking conditions on board of EU tuna vessels

o Sectorial Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries to ensure safety at sea and decent working and living conditions for fishermen:o International Labour Organisation Convention on work in the

fisheries sector (Work in Fishing Convention 2007)o REFOPE, the European Network for Fisheries Training and

Employment o Promoting the implementation at EU level of the international

convention on fishermen's training on health and safety issues (STCW-F 95)

o Mutual recognition of qualifications at EU levelo New social clause in fisheries agreements with non-EU

countries (SFPAs)

EU social partners

o On Wednesday 8 May 2013, the workers’ organisation ETF and the employers’ representatives of Europêche formally adopted a Social Partners’ Agreement (SPA) to transpose into EU law ILO Convention 188 that aims to provide worldwide access to decent working and living conditions for fishermen

o The agreement demonstrates a clear pledge of the European Social Partners in favour of enhanced working and living conditions of fishermen on board vessels flying EU flags and vessels calling at European ports, regardless their flag and the nationality of the crew

ILO Convention 188:

o It comprises:

o Minimum requirements for working on boardo Conditions of service, accommodation and foodo Occupational safety and health protectiono Medical careo Social security

ILO Convention 188:

REFOPE, the European Network for Fisheries Training and Employment

o Representatives of the sector, training centers and competent national authorities set up in 2005 the European Network for Fisheries Training and Employment, so called REFOPE. This network is currently managed by Europêche and ETF.

o It was created in order to satisfy the following needs:* Promote the mutual recognition of certificates in order to facilitate the free movement of workers within the fisheries sector;* Integrating young people in the labour market;* Prevention of accidents at sea;* Specific training actions and exchange of information on the best practices between the training centers

Working conditions on board of EU vessels

o Committed to long-term and quality employment (permanent contracts in Europe as well as Western African countries, with seniority levels reaching up to twenty years of continuous provision of professional services).

o Guaranteed ILO salary (Madrid Agreement) even if the compensation of an ordinary worker may easily double these amounts.

o Framed in a Public Regime of the Social Security, with common contingencies coverage (illness, dead, survival and health assistance) as well as professional contingencies (labour accidents and professional illnesses)

o Private accident and life insurance to supplement the coverage of the national security systems.

o Individual cabin, or for two maximum, with individual shower and toilet

o Respect to cultural and ethnical diversity at work, as well as in food

o Application of the Spanish Law on Occupational Hazards

o Investment in the maintenance of Individual Protection Equipment for the security and safety of the staff at work

 o Investment in the maintenance and renewal of the vessels that

result in better occupational safety conditions on board

o At least two months of holidays for boarding periods between four and six months

o Freedom of association and syndication expressly recognized both by the national legislation as by the social clause of the EU Fisheries Partnership Agreements

o Respect to cultural and ethnical diversity at work, as well as in food

o Training compromise with the workers of developing coastal countries (STCW 78/95 certification) and their hiring (20% of crew from ACP origin)

o Health controls by periodical medical checks previous to boarding, adapted to ILO’s C73

o Encouragement of ILO´s C188 ratification which has to homogenize the crew labour standards, as well as MLC 2006 that has enabled its achievement in the merchant fleet

o But… this is not for free

o Nowadays social issues involve 30% of exploitation cost (more than fuel)

o What about other countries fleets?

o We need a level playing field, also in social issues

Thank you for your attention!