Wider ratification and effective implementation of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (No. 188), are essential to improve working conditions for fishers and strengthening the social dimension of sustainable fisheries, an International Labour Organization (ILO) expert told a high-level event at the European Parliament.
"If European countries want to act on forced labour and abuses on foreign vessels in their waters, ratification of this instrument, which provides an internationally recognized framework, is what gives them the tool," said Tariq Haq, Head of the Transport and Maritime Unit at the ILO's Sectoral Policies Branch. He highlighted the urgent need to strengthen labour protections in a sector marked by high levels of informality, worker vulnerability and risks of forced labour.
He was speaking during a panel discussion at an event titled: "Advancing the social dimension of sustainable fisheries".
Organized by OPAGAC, an association of tuna freezer vessel owners, the event examined how the working conditions of fishers can be better reflected in EU policy and enforcement, as the EU prepares to implement its Forced Labour Regulation, which will ban the sale, import, and export of any products made using forced labour on the EU market from December 2027. The event was opened by the Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries.
The Work in Fishing Convention (No. 188) sets standards for conditions of service, occupational safety and health, medical care and social security. It has been ratified by 27 Member States, following recent ratifications by Belgium, Côte d'Ivoire, Iceland, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. By comparison, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), adopted one year earlier, in 2006, has 113 ratifications.
"The Maritime Labour Convention shows what strong labour governance at sea can achieve, and our challenge is to bring fishers to the same level of protection," Haq said.
While EU directives provide important protections, they do not fully replace Convention No. 188. Directive 2017/159, for example, does not cover self-employed fishers and does not contain provisions on flag State inspection or port State control.
Ratification is particularly important for fishing vessels operating internationally. States that have ratified Convention No. 188 can inspect foreign fishing vessels calling at their ports against its standards, providing a tool to address labour abuses and forced labour while promoting fair competition.
Progress in implementing labour protections for fishers has been slower than in other sea-based industries, partly because the sector is fragmented. Fishers often lack organized representation, while responsibilities are divided among labour ministries, fisheries and maritime authorities. Coordination among these authorities is critical.
Haq pointed to signs of renewed momentum, including recent ratifications of Convention No. 188, greater recognition of the links between labour abuses, forced labour and sustainable fisheries, and developments in port State control of fishing vessels.
The ILO's Partnership for Decent Work in Fisheries is supporting efforts to increase ratification and implementation of Convention No. 188, helping countries move from political commitment towards practical implementation. It is supported by the governments of France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, and the European Commission.
Ultimately, improving labour conditions aboard fishing vessels is about more than protecting fishers. Stronger labour governance can also support fair competition, responsible fisheries and sustainable seafood supply chains. The true measure of progress, Haq concluded, is whether fishers experience safer workplaces, stronger protections and more decent working conditions.
