EU debates harsh working conditions for fishers: 'I had no other choice'
Endless weeks, shifts of up to 24 hours and even no drinking water: these were some of the hardships aired last week at a debate held by the EU Fisheries Committee with sector representatives.
Indonesian fisher Fredi Seprizal described enduring modern slavery conditions aboard a Chinese vessel for 16 months, during a European Parliament debate on boosting the social dimension of sustainable fisheries. Seprizal recounted working 16-20 hours a day, sometimes non-stop for 24 hours, with rest breaks of just three to six hours.
He also criticized the lack of safety equipment and feared for his life at sea. Carmen Crespo, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries, emphasized that Europe must uphold sustainability, safety, and labor rights to remain competitive. The committee aimed to address forced labor and improve working conditions for fishermen.
Research by Sallie Yea found that 94% of interviewed fishers had experienced unpaid wages, and all had seen contracts altered unfavorably. One in four fishers witnessed a crew member's death, and one in four vessels analyzed had recorded deaths. Panelists from the International Labour Organization, European Transport Workers' Federation, Environmental Justice Foundation, and Oxfam called for stricter enforcement of labor standards.
The EU has a regulation on forced labor, set to roll out fully by December 2027, but OPAGAC believes European consumers should only consume fish caught by workers not subjected to forced labor or modern slavery.
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