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

Safety and health at sea have always been a top priority for both partner organisations involved in the EU project. This action seeks to propose concrete improvements to the EU fisheries policies that could offer better health, working conditions and safety at sea for fishers. In addition, the project aims at enhancing socially responsible fish sourcing and consumption in the EU market.

The activities of the project will run for the next two years. The Social Partners will meet during the European Maritime days of 2023 (Brest, France) and of 2024 (Svendborg, Denmark) to assess, measure and make progress. The final results will be presented in Brussels in the second half of 2024.

About the EU project

The project, co-funded by the EU, partially implements the work programme of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fishing in order to significantly make progress in various key areas of interest for Social Partners.

Pillar 1: Guidelines for vessel owners on decent recruitment of migrant fishers. The guidelines will be based on EU legislation and other binding international instruments and be used to constitute model contracts between a fisher and a private employment agency, between a fishing vessel owner and a private employment agency, and fisher’s work agreement.

To be developed by international expert on social affairs, Estelle Brendtall.

Pillar 2: Training programme for doctors performing medical examination of fishers. In the previous project, the Social Partners successfully developed guidelines on the medical examination of fishers. As a continuation of this work, it is essential for doctors, who conduct medical examinations and issue medical certificates, to receive training via guidance which fit the specificities of sea fishers.

To be developed by International Maritime Health Association (IMHA).

Pillar 3: Legal analysis on market and custom tools to combat forced labour in the fishing industry. This pillar will explore the possibility for EU to restrict or prohibit seafood imports from fishing vessels or countries identified for child or serious labour abuse including no respect of basic human rights on board fishing vessels.

To be developed by Marinnleg foundation.

Pillar 4: Upgrade of the ‘’Fishery Speak’ app, an interactive glossary, providing an overview of the main phrases used on board a fishing vessel. The aim of this upgrade is therefore to add further languages identified as essential and the necessary uploads and technical updates of the mobile application.

To be developed by IT company, Innatial developers SL.

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 Press Release – Launch pillars of the sea