A US news report that fishing crew workers are being treated like slave labour in our waters has added weight to the Maritime Union’s call for urgent action.
News agency Bloomberg reported this week that Indonesian fishing crews were being subjected to abuse and horrific work conditions in New Zealand seas.
Maritime Union spokesman Victor Billot told TV ONE’s Breakfast today that the union was very happy the article was published.
He said the report raises “a lot of the issues that have been flagged already”.
“Abuse of overseas crews in the New Zealand fishing industry are happening,” he said.
The union has labelled these fishing companies “parasites” and wants urgent action from the Government.
A Government report is due out on Friday, with the results of a ministerial investigation into the matter.
Billot said New Zealand is risking damage to its international reputation if slave labour occurs in our waters.
Two US grocery chains, Wal-Mart and Safeway, are investigating the New Zealand fish they import as a result of the Bloomberg report.
Immediate change is needed, Billot said.
“In our view it is a lack of enforcement, a lack of regulation in the industry,” he said.
“We’re looking for changes around the enforcement of the rules to make sure those crews are treated right.”
Billot also called for New Zealand workers to be given a “fair crack” at working in the industry.
The attraction of hiring overseas crew is that they will work for lesser wages.
“If we can’t afford to pay people basic wages and conditions in New Zealand it’s a pretty concerning situation.”
He said fishing companies are making good money from the “exploitation and abuse of overseas crews”.
“With the amount of pay they’re getting, there’s just no excuse for it.”
One of the main problems in the industry is that crew are often hired through agents back in their home countries, who demand the employees pay bonds, their own flights, and job fees.
“There has to be a lot of work done on that because the crews, as people may realise, are hired in their country of origin.”
If crew try to leave a boat and break their work contract, they are fined heavily and can arrive home in debt.
The Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota has today issued its own warning for the Inquiry into Foreign Charter Vessels, due to report back on Friday.
“There are worrying signals that the Inquiry’s recommendations will be limited solely to addressing the disgraceful exploitation of foreign workers within our exclusive economic zone,” said SFWU spokesperson Neville Donaldson.
Donaldson said that while this exploitation is totally unacceptable, an opportunity will be missed if the Inquiry does not also address industry practices that have led to “the loss of thousands of local jobs, skills, and career paths”.
Donaldson said the Inquiry should also make recommendations ensuring jobs are restored to New Zealand workers, particularly Maori.
“This is absolutely critical with Maori unemployment in double digits and youth Maori unemployment off the scale.”
The SFWU represents over 2,000 workers in the seafood industry.
2012, Television New Zealand Limited