The newly adopted Guidelines for Fair Labour Market Services for Migrant Fishers provide a comprehensive framework to assist governments and social partners in promoting ethical recruitment and fair treatment of migrant fishers across the world. They clarify the respective roles and responsibilities of States and industry stakeholders involved in recruitment, work agreements, complaint mechanisms, enforcement measures and data collection. The Guidelines are complemented by eight practical tools to facilitate implementation and methodological guidance to strengthen data collection on migrant fishers, thereby improving policymaking and monitoring efforts.

Representing the employers’ group through the International Organization of Employers (IOE), Europêche members and experts actively contributed to the discussions, with Cor Blonk, spokesman for the employers in the meeting and Chair of the EU Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries (Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association – PFA), Rosa Meijide (ARVI), and Daniel Voces and Anne-France Mattlet (Europêche Secretariat) participating on behalf of the sector. Experts appreciated the guidance and support of Mr. Luis Rodrigo Morales (Director of Policy), Ms. Natalia Privee Boudeguer (Adviser), and Ms. Stéphanie Winet (Head of Migration Portfolio) from the International Organization of Employers (IOE).

Building on EU leadership in fair recruitment

The ILO’s work builds upon years of constructive dialogue and progress supported by the EU Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries[1]. Earlier this year, the EU Social Partners presented at the European Parliament the outcomes of the EU project ‘Pillars of the Sea 3: Roadmap towards socially sustainable fishing’[2], a major initiative supported by the European Commission.

This project delivered actionable tools to improve social sustainability in fisheries, including:

• Guidelines for Fair Recruitment of Migrant Fishers, promoting transparency and ethical hiring practices.
• A Training Programme for Medical Practitioners performing mandatory fitness examinations under the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C188).
• Research on trade measures to combat forced labour in fisheries

These initiatives have laid the foundation for fair labour market services, ensuring that social responsibility becomes a core element of sustainable fisheries management.

A longstanding commitment to fair work at sea

Europêche has consistently defended the full respect of social and labour rights for all fishers, including migrants, within ILO fora. Since the 2017 Tripartite Meeting on Issues Relating to Migrant Fishers, Europêche has called for stronger coordination among UN agencies, simplified procedures for lawful recruitment and harmonisation of safety and labour standards under the ILO C188 Convention.

Cor Blonk, stated: ‘I am proud to have contributed to the development of these important ILO Guidelines. I’m certain this joint work—together with workers’ representatives and governments, following a week of constructive debates—will greatly benefit the sector. It provides stronger protection for migrant fishers worldwide and greater legal certainty for national authorities, employers and recruiting agencies. These Guidelines are a milestone for a fairer and more attractive global fishing industry, inspiring from the work of Social Partners in Europe.’

About Europêche

Europêche represents national fisheries associations of EU Member States, advocating for responsible, competitive and sustainable fisheries in Europe and globally. Through active participation in the EU Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries, Europêche promotes fair working conditions, health and safety, and ethical recruitment practices across the fishing sector.

For more information, see the ILO’s meeting of experts on Guidelines for Fair Labour Market Services for Migrant Fishers.[3]

[1] https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/eu-employment-policies/social-dialogue/cross-industry-and-sectoral-social-dialogue/sea-fisheries-sectoral-social-dialogue_en

[2] https://socialdialogueseafisheries.eu/publications_and_resources/

[3] https://www.ilo.org/meetings-and-events/sectorial/meeting-experts-guidelines-fair-labour-market-services-migrant-fishers

Press Contact:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche

Email: daniel.voces@europeche.org │ Phone: +32 489 26 81 07

Anne-France Mattlet, Deputy Director of Europêche

Email: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org │ Phone: +33 678116301

EP Press Release – ILO Guidelines Migrant Workers

The Commission proposal for a regulation prohibiting products made with forced labor on the Union market is a big step forward to tackle undignified working conditions globally. National competent authorities will have a key role in the investigation and the enforcement of the ban. In this context, the social partners believe it necessary to set up a collaborative effort from all the interested parties who must be able to report proven cases of situations of forced labor to the authorities. The Social partners are in a privileged position to assist European, national and ILO officials through their network of internationally recognized inspectors and are keen to collaborate.

The social partners stress that the Regulation should take into account also fish products produced in the EU and traded within or outside the European Union. Besides, a particular difficult aspect of the implementation, which will therefore need particular attention, is that forced labor is part of the manufacturing process and, according to the Commission, does not leave any trace on the product. In addition, to be concretely effective, it will need to work hand-in-hand with the IUU Regulation, which is the instrument to tackle imports in the EU of fish caught illegally. See Resolution of the Social partners in the sea-fisheries sector on the fight against forced labor document.

Social partners concluded: “European consumers must be able to buy only products obtained in an ethical and sustainable way. Any form of undignified work is contrary to the values ​​of the EU Treaties and forced labor is expressly prohibited by EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.”

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces, Europêche Managing Director (+32.2.230.48.48 or daniel.voces@europeche.org)

Andrea Albertazzi, ETF Fisheries Policy Officer (+32.470.93.05.89 or a.albertazzi@etf-europe.org)

EP and ETF Press Release – Forced Labour