International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)

The International Transport Workers’ Federation is an international trade union federation of transport workers’ unions. Fishers (and the fisheries sector in general) are becoming an important part of the ITF’s activities.

ITF recognises that exploitative practices experienced on board fishing vessels are closely linked to those of merchant seafarers and is working to further expand regulation of practices and attain, at the very least, minimum standards within the fishing industry.

European social partners on sea-fisheries signed a resolution inviting the European Union (EU) to take up its responsibility and end forced labour practices in EU waters. 10 May 2017.

Investigations executed by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) revealed serious infringements of fundamental principles at work and social protection rights of migrant fishers in a part of the EU’s fishing sector. The social partners expect the EU to ensure fulfilment by Member States of their obligations and to adopt guidelines for flag state and port state inspections to prevent such practices. The resolution was signed by the General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the European Union (COGECA), the Association of National Organisations of Fishing Enterprises in the European Union (Europêche) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF).

Justice for Fishers campaign

The ITF has committed to campaign to improve the wages, working conditions and labour rights of all fishers irrespective of where they come from or what type of boat that they work on.

Significance for seafood businesses:

Not seafood-specific but becoming more so in support of fishers. Useful for awareness as an organisation working to support the industry, and improve governance, safety and welfare within the global seafood industry.

Note:

Links with International Union of Food Workers (IUF) on catcher to counter campaign.

Find out more

To find out more click on the links below. Please note you will be taken to an external website.