Brussels, 16/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 21 May, the ETF (European Transport Workers' Federation) and employers' representatives from Europêche and COGECA will sign an agreement aiming to guarantee decent working conditions aboard fishing vessels operating in European waters. The agreement transposes International Labour Organisation Convention 188 (Work in Fishing Convention) into EU legislation as a means to ensure worldwide access to decent working and living conditions for fishermen.
The signing ceremony will take place in Gothenburg (Sweden) in the presence of Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. By signing this agreement, European partners are contributing towards the harmonisation of social benefits in the fishing sector, ant they encourage EU countries to ratify the convention and harmonise the rules. The convention sets minimum requirements for working on board, conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health protection, medical care and social security as defined in the ILO convention. The social partners have already announced their plans to ask the Commission to propose an EU directive effectively transposing the content of the agreement into EU law. This request is expected to be submitted once the Commission completes its legal evaluation of the text. (LC/transl.fl)