The United Nations International Labor Commission (ILO) has adopted new labor standards designed to improve the working conditions of about 30 million men and women working in the fishing sector world wide. The new standards were adopted at the 96th annual conference of the commission. The measures include improved health and safety conditions at sea and give fishermen the same social security protection other workers receive. The standards contain provisions to ensure that workers in the fishing sector receive sufficient rest for their health and safety, protection of work agreement. The provisions are also aimed at ensuring that fishing vessels are constructed and maintained so that workers in the sector have living conditions on board that reflect the long periods they often spent at sea.
Captain Nigel Campell, Chairperson of the Conference Committee that prepared the final version of the Convention, said that fishing was a unique way of life and the new convention reflects not only the uniqueness but the demands of globalization in an ever-expanding sector that exposes men and women to considerable hardships and danger, he added. Announcing the adoption, Juan Somavia, Director, ILO, said that in the fishing sector many people face extraordinary and unpredictable hazards, often working long hours in harsh conditions to bring food to our markets and this new instrument will help protect the fishermen against exploitation.