Government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) is finalising a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will be signed with other government agencies and stakeholders to implement the National Crewing Policy.
This policy was developed by the ministry last year aimed at providing fair and safe working conditions for Solomon Islands fishers working on all domestic ands international fishing vessels.
Speaking to Solomon Star on Thursday, Chief Fisheries Officer, Alan Aba said the ministry is looking forward to working with government agencies and stakeholders to share the responsibility and resources to implement the policy in the near future.
For the MOU, MFMR is also working together with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) and other stakeholders.
Elirose Fagaqweka, Senior Labour Division of MCILI said also stressed how the MOU will help them with a venue where they can implement the laws that can protect the labour rights of fishers.
“I believe that as long as the MOU is signed between stakeholders and through our joint efforts, we can be able to deal with the issues in our fishing industry.
“As we know, there are a lot of issues of abuse and labour force on our local fishers which means that our local fishers sign contracts for payments on certain amount of time for certain amount of wage but it happens that they long hours (up to 18 hours per day) and the wages they receive does not match the long hour they have worked.
“These fishers have their rights for their resting hours but they are not having enough rest as they are being forced out of bed by pouring buckets of water on them,” Ms. Fagaqweka said.
She added that these fishing vessels operators are Profit Oriented Companies which means they want to earn money but they use human beings like machines to earn their income.
“Therefore, these vessel operators must ensure that they comply with their labour rights. Whenever those rights are abused, that’s where we come in,” she said.
“Our part here is the reconciliation which we have to make sure employers have to pay their employees fairly.
“In a case that employees are not paid fairly and is reported, we stand on behalf of the employee to deal with his employer and ensures he pays the employee accordingly,” Ms. Fagaqweka said.
She added that however there is a gap in their work is the lack of link that can allow us to do inspection in our ports.
“But with the MOU signed, we will be able to have the access to do so and work together with stakeholders to do labour inspections on board fishing vessels,” she said.
With MICIL, there is also the Immigration Division that deals mainly trafficking issues and deportation.
“Thus, this MOU will allow us display our various roles to protect our laborrers, ensuring that there is no trafficking and abuse of labour rights,” Ms. Fagaqweka said.
Other stakeholders that are part of the MOU includes the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), Police Maritime, Attorney General’s Chambers, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Solomon Islands National University, Immigration Division, the Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
