A call on Labour Market Enforcement and a future Fair Work Agency to address labour exploitation in fishing

The majority of migrant fishers working for UK companies on UK flagged vessels are currently excluded from accessing some of the most basic protections available under UK employment law. This drives down employment standards in fishing and, combined with a lack of proactive monitoring and labour market enforcement, creates significant risks of exploitation and abuse. With an Employment Rights Bill going through parliament and plans for creating a new Fair Work Agency it is vital that the UK ensures it is proactively meeting its obligations to all workers in the UK fishing industry and that UK fishing is included within the remit of the Fair Work Agency.

This letter was written to ensure that UK fishing is included within the remit of the Fair Work Agency, and to work with decision-makers to ensure that this issue finally gets the attention and action that is so sorely needed.

Signed by:

• Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX)
• International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Fisheries Section 
• Nautilus International
• The Seafarers’ Charity
• Dr Jess Sparks