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Regional cooperation set to tackle working conditions in the fishing industry
14 December 2007
 |  | | ITF and IUF have committed to fight poor conditions in the Latin America fishing industry. | |
The ITF and the Latin American division of the International Union of Food Workers (IUF) have agreed to pool efforts and resources to help reinforce labour rights in the Latin American fishing industry.
The agreement was reached at a regional planning meeting of the Latin American Fishery Sector on 29 and 30 November, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The organisations resolved to promote and contribute to the establishment of national coordination committees across the entire fishery sector chain. The committees’ aim would be to focus on a range of issues such as organising, health and safety, working conditions and illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing activities. Among their other key tasks would be to lobby for the ratification by all states in the region of International Labour Organization Convention 188, which focuses on protecting workers in the fishing industry, and to campaign to ensure respect for human rights, including the freedom of association of fishery workers in the region.
Antonio Fritz, Regional Secretary ITF-Americas commented: “The fishing industry is extremely important in Latin America, however, the working conditions are usually low, including those of transantional companies operating in the region. Fisheries in the region have two main challenges, organising to have more bargaining power and fighting IUU fishing in order to protect their stocks, thus promoting a sustainable industry. This unprecedented cooperation agreement shows Unions are aware of these challenges and are committed to fight, and win.”
The agreement will be followed up at an ITF/IUF international planning meeting for the fishing sector scheduled for March 2008.
Delegates also issued a declaration in solidarity with the General Union of Fishing and Related Industry Workers, representing employees at the El Salvador plant of the Spanish canned fish producer Calvo Group; it has been reported that the company has dismissed a number of workers and carried out anti-union practices. In addition, they adopted a resolution on illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
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