Most people work on land. Unless rocked by an earthquake, their work stations remain still. Not so for fishers. Their entire work platform rocks and rolls ceaselessly. Non-fishers cannot imagine the risks they face. Fishers work in unique conditions. There are no regular hours. On-board accommodation can be extremely cramped and unhealthy.
The difficulties don’t end when the catch is landed. Fishworkers include those in the harbours; those who process the fish and carry out post-harvest activities; those who work these into markets. Even though women carry out these activities—some even more than men—their contribution is undervalued. They work in difficult conditions, without healthcare or decent facilities, facing violence and harassment.
Trade union membership is low. Which means labour standards and legal frameworks, like those laid down by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to protect fishers, are often not to their benefit. There are also concerns worldwide about forced labour, human trafficking and exploitation of migrant labour.
ICSF has, since its inception in 1986, worked to improve the conditions of work onboard fishing vessels through legal and policy interventions. ICSF has advocated for the inclusion of small-scale fishing vessels in the ILO Work in Fishing Convention C188, which lays down binding requirements concerning work on board fishing vessels, occupational safety, health and medical care at sea and ashore, rest periods, written work agreements. ICSF has worked in partnership with FAO and ILO to address child labour issues in fishing.
Engaging with the Decent work process related to the adopted Work in Fishing Convention (WFC), 2007 has been an important part of ICSF’s work. ICSF saw engagement with the ILO process as an opportunity to focus greater attention on issues related to the conditions of work in the small-scale fisheries sector, including aspects such as safety at sea, social security, and remuneration and recognition of shore -based workers, especially women.
The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) Trust and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) jointly organized a Training and Capacity Development workshop at KILA, Kerala, India on...
This study aims to look at the situation of these migrant fishers to get a better understanding of their recruitment, living and working conditions on the one hand and to...
This report on the “Sub-regional Dialogue on Labour, Migration and Fisheries Management”, held at, Thailand, from 11 to 13 December 2013, highlights the issue of migrant labour on board fishing...
This guidebook is intended mainly to help those unfamiliar with the Convention and the working of the ILO and the ILC, gain some understanding of the relevant issues. In particular,...
ICSF Guidebook: Understanding the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 English https://icsf.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/930.ICSF119.pdf Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Odia, Tamil, Kannada
The document gives a detailed report of the presentations and discussions transpired in the workshop. It is also worth noting that the discussions at the workshop as well as the...
The conventions and recommendations adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) formulate minimum international standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of...
This study explores the status of Brazil’s social welfare system for the fisheries sector, from the point of view of democratization of access, the methodologies used and the extent to...
Since Sri Lanka’s independence in 1948, social welfare for the country’s fishing populations has been the responsibility of successive governments. During the latter half of the last millennium, the State...
This dossier puts together reports on workshops held to discuss this proposed standard, as well as analyses of social security measures for fishing communities in the small-scale and artisanal sector...
During the last 30 years, the labour force in South-East Asia’s fishing and seafood processing sectors has shifted dramatically in response to the region’s rapid but uneven social and economic...
This Policy Guidance on the Elimination of Child Labour in Fisheries and Aquaculture was prepared through a consultative process led by a joint working group established by the Food and...
Modern slavery is the very antithesis of social justice and sustainable development. The 2021 Global Estimates indicate there are 50 million people in situations of modern slavery on any given...
The interactions––including conflict and competition––between coastal small-scale fishing (SSF) communities and large-scale, distant-water fishing (DWF) fleets have garnered increasing attention in recent decades. Coastal States, such as Liberia, employ a...
The purpose of the present Guidelines is to assist governments and the social partners in promoting fair labour market services for migrant fishers by providing guidance to and clarifying the...
The research and analysis on “Decent work and responsible business practices in the aquaculture sector in the Philippines” is a pioneering study that provides much needed detail to the current...
This document covers a wide canvas. It seeks to provide readers in the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, other maritime agencies and Armed Forces, as well as the Government and...
While most climate-related movement occurs within the borders of ASEAN Member States, cross-border movement also occurs. Adverse effects of climate change can be drivers of migration and also a risk...
Climate change will increasingly impact the working conditions of employed fishers, who work in the most hazardous occupation in a sector already at high risk for forced labor and other...
The primary objective of the “Decent work in marine fishing questionnaires” is to generate reliable, replicable, and statistically representative prevalence data on working conditions in the marine fishing sector. This...