SIMN at the 96th International Labour Conference of the ILO in Geneva
The Centre for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) is an international NGO recognized by the International Labour Organization (ILO). CMS provided SIMN with the opportunity to participate from June 1st to the 15th in the ILO annual conference in Geneva.
One of the roles of the ILO is to adopt and oversee compliance with international labour standards. The annual conference is a major international forum for debating worldwide social and labour questions.
The 2007 annual conference was attended by more than 3,000 delegates, including heads of state, labour ministers, leaders of workers' and employers' organizations from most of the ILO's 180 member states together with representatives of international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The conference hosted seven eminent guest speakers: H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile: H.E. Mr. John Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of the African Union; His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain; the Most Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica; H.E. Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal; His Royal Highness Felipe de Borbón, Prince of Asturias and H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
After holding extensive discussions on new approaches toward promoting sustainable enterprises and decent work conditions in the fishing industry, the conference concluded its 15-day work by adopting a comprehensive new set of labour standards.
Most delegates gave their support to the new standards designed to improve the conditions of millions of men and women working in the fishing industry. A new ILO Convention was adopted under the title “The Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No.188)”. It will come into effect after being ratified by 10 (including eight coastal nations) of the ILO’s 180 member States.
The new standards contain provisions designed to ensure that workers in the fishing industry have improved occupation safety, health and medical care at sea; that sick or injured fishers receive care ashore; that they are allowed sufficient rest to maintain their health and safety; that they have the protection of a work agreement and have the same social security protection as other workers.
Provisions were also made to ensure that fishing vessels are constructed and maintained so that the living conditions of the workers on board are compatible with the long periods they often spend at sea.
The Convention also put in place mechanisms to ensure compliance with, and enforcement of, its provisions by the different governments. One of the provisions indicates that large fishing vessels on extended voyages may be subjected to inspections in foreign ports to ensure that the fishers on board do not work under conditions that are hazardous to their safety and health. This provision aims to remove from the fishing industry those vessels with unacceptable working and living conditions which are run to the detriment of conscientious operators.
The next step, following the adoption of the Convention by the International Labour Conference, is for member states to present this measure to their national authorities for ratification.
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