Southeast Asia: Economic lobbying hinders development of fishermen
The coordinator of the Apostleship of the Sea for South Asia: there is need for a new convention which regulates work in the fishing community, but Asian states are conditioned by more developed countries which are against the idea.
Goa (AsiaNews) Strong lobbies in the maritime trade and transport sector oppose the development and improvement of living conditions among Southeast Asian fishing communities. The charge is made by Fr Xavier Pinto, coordinator of the Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) for South Asia a Vatican organization which safeguards maritime workers and undertakes post-tsunami aid work. AoS representatives participated in the recent International Labour Conference (ILC), which was unsuccessful in enacting a new convention regulating fishing at a global level because of the abstention of countries which need it most.
Fr Pinto pointed a finger at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which held the meeting, and leaders of Asian nations who "remained silent" despite problems facing some 15 million fishermen in the world, who would have drawn benefits from the proposed new convention. Other than government representatives, the National Forum of Fishermen of India and the World Forum of Fishermen participated in the 93rd session of the ILC organized by the ILO but "it was no use", according to the priest.
The new pact would have replaced seven ILO conventions adopted between 1920 and 1966, which by now are obsolete and relevant only to 10% of 15 million fishermen in the industry. The proposed convention the Work in Fishing Convention would have covered 90% of all personnel employed in the fishing industry across the world. "The proposal aimed to improve conditions especially of small fishermen in developing countries," said Fr Pinto. Indeed most workers are found in these countries, where they must survive without a regular wage; many have now been prostrated by the tsunami.
The Work in Fishing Convention provided for cover in hours off, social security, guarantee of a minimum stipend and written agreements between fishermen and boat owners.
A total of 49 countries voted in favour of the new convention, four against and 25 abstained. "Nations with large fishing industries like China, India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka did not vote on crucial issues which matter so much for the future of fishermen," said the priest.
Fr Pinto explained that "these, like other countries in the world, are tied to guarantees and special terms conceded them by more developed northern nations which promote privatization; it is not worth their while to have poor fishermen improve their working conditions. Voting in favour of the new convention could be interpreted as a blow to the powerful "friends in the north" with whom these countries have several joint ventures in the fishing industry."
Only in 2007 when the next conference is held will the next discussion about "vital issues" for this category of workers take place. But Mgr Pinto is decided: "In the meantime we will continue to lobby governments and hope that the interests of the population prevail over purely economic returns." He added that in areas hit by the tsunami, AoS, together with its backers, is urging the authorities to accelerate the pace of necessary construction of permanent houses; but here too, especially in Sri Lanka, the tourist sector lobby is strong and trying to grab land, which before belonged to fishermen, to build hotels and huge streets.
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14/01/2005
