A NEW worker-driven pilot to improve working conditions and tackle concerns about labour abuse in the UK’s fishing industry has been launched in Scotland.
In a bid to address anxieties within the industry about welfare rights and imbalances of power between workers and employers, numerous groups have come together to build a two-year pilot scheme in the North East.
The charity Focus on Labour Exploitation (Flex) teamed up with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the Fair Food Programme (FFP) to deliver Europe’s first worker-driven social responsibility programme.
Worker-driven social responsibility is a model for tackling labour abuse and exploitation in corporate supply chains, which has been used in various industries across the world over the past decade – from agriculture to textiles.
Lucila Granada, the CEO of Flex, said the programme would aim to improve working conditions for Scottish fishers.
“FLEX is delighted to be launching Europe’s first ever Worker-driven Social Responsibility programme jointly with ITF and the Fair Food Programme.
“Worker-driven social responsibility truly is a ground-breaking model, and we are excited to be bringing it to the UK to help restructure the power imbalances that exist in the fishing industry between worker and employer, and in particular safeguard and improve working conditions for migrant fishers who are a vital part of the UK’s fishing industry.”
Indeed, particular concern is being paid to migrant workers in the industry in Scotland.
The programme is set to work closely with the Scottish White Fish Producers Association to confront the immigration “loophole” in the current transit-visa model.
Currently, migrant fishers are not protected by UK employment law when working on UK vessels just outside the 12 nautical mile legal limit.
Fisheries expert at ITF, Chris Williams, said workers would be given the ability to shape their working conditions.
“ITF have campaigned to shut the transit visa loophole and been successful – the Home Office have admitted (in 2023) that transit visas used for crew fishing in UK territorial waters are an illegal route to employment, as we have argued for many years,” he said.
“The change to skilled worker visas is a positive and necessary step, but this does not cover vessels fishing outside UKTTW.
“This pilot project gives migrant fishers working on some of these vessels a chance for greater protection and improved conditions at work, as well as the ability to shape their own working conditions, despite the continued use of seafarer’s transit visa to recruit them.
“We hope this pilot will be successful and expand over time to ensure all workers, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.”
The pilot has secured funding from Humanity United to run for an initial two-year period starting from December 2023.
It will be implemented in the North East and begin with outreach work with migrant fishers and active engagement with industry stakeholders in two key ports.
