The Seafarers’ Charity has been shocked at the findings of new research published by the University Of Nottingham Rights Lab which reveals evidence of poor treatment and lack of decent working conditions for some migrant workers on UK fishing vessels.
The research report 'Letting Exploitation off the Hook? Evidencing Labour Abuses in UK Fishing' has been published this week by the University of Nottingham Rights Lab.
The researchers sought out views of fishing crew and heard directly from them about what it is really like to work within the UK fishing industry. Increasing difficulties in recruiting UK fishing crew means that many workers are recruited from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) such as the Philippines and Ghana and can experience very different working conditions and practices to their UK colleagues.
Research Reveals Labour Abuses
The research revealed:
- 35% of fishing crew in the study reported suffering regular physical violence.
- However, 65% stated they would never report a grievance out of fear of being blacklisted from future employment opportunities.
- 19% of those included in the research would qualify as probable cases of forced labour when applying the International Labour Organization’s guidelines in the Forced Labour
- 100% of non-EEA crew within the research study experienced immigration related vulnerabilities caused by the use of a ‘transit visa’ which places them at increased risk of labour exploitation. Transit visas are designed for seafarers travelling to reach their departing ship and are unsuitable for workers based within the UK as lacking many basic labour protections in respect of pay and working hours.
Shocked and saddened
We have been shocked and saddened at the working conditions of migrant fishing crew
“We have been shocked and saddened at the working conditions and treatment of migrant fishing crew revealed in this new research. The Seafarers’ Charity champions the safety and wellbeing of all who work at sea.”
“I am sure that many people, including owners of fishing businesses and other stakeholders, will share our concerns about the treatment of migrant workers in the UK fishing industry.”
“We stand ready, as a grant funder, to play our role in supporting improvements in the working conditions and treatment of migrant workers in the UK fishing industry and we call on others involved in UK fishing to act swiftly to stamp out the abhorrent treatment of migrant workers and prevent the risk of such poor practices ever becoming accepted in UK fishing” stated Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of The Seafarers’ Charity