The Oyang 75 heads to sea, a newer ship, but reportedly in the same condition
crew the minimum wage (less legal deductions) to the account of the Indonesian crewing agents. These crewing agents have not and from what we are hearing, will likely never pay this money across to the crews' bank accounts, so why do we do it? Southern Storm's position is that they have fulfilled their obligations to pay the minimum wage by forwarding payment to these crewing agents. The crew is adamant that they have not received any payments from these agents. We are now starting to see a lot of smoke and mirror stuff as these crewing agents work for the vessel owners, act solely in the interests of the vessel owners and cannot be said to be "appointed" by the crew. To suggest payment has been made to the crew directly is incorrect. As to what amount has been paid, Southern Storm has stated that they've paid the minimum wage, which amounts to 42 hours per week or six hours per day.
This ignores the fact that any other vessel operating in these fisheries works two six-hour shifts per day, or a total of 12 hours per day. It is inconceivable that the crew on the Oyang 75 would merely have been working a six-hour day.
Even New Zealand fishermen working on our boats in excellent conditions work longer hours. The crew's statements that they were working in excess of 16 hours per day is much more likely to be closer to the truth. To get to the truth, many folk have gone out on a limb to assist these crewmen, including this magazine, and the stories being revealed are now becoming bloody scary. Remember, these men have no need to lie, for to do so will see them blacklisted and lose creditability and trust from the only people who can help them. To get to part of the truth we spoke to Glenn Simmons of the University of Auckland Business School, who, along with Dr Christina Stringer, re-focused their research on the FCV activities following the sinking of the Oyang 70. Their research is part of a broader project on Innovation and Market Positioning of the Seafood Industry involving Professor Hugh Whittaker and other colleagues. The research revealed these foreign charter crews essentially operate in an institutional void, a No Man's Land.
One of the findings, just released, points to serious and widespread human rights abuses, to an extent which may fall under the United Nation's definition of trafficking in persons. Crew told them about being forced to sign false time sheets, of not being paid, brutal beatings, inhumane punishments (eg, made to stand on deck for hours, without food or water in extreme
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Email: chrisj@gordonhandy.co.nz September/October 2011 Professional Skipper 21
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