fishing industry, the company said in a statement. It said the fishermen have been paid in full and would soon be served with deportation notices by immigration officers.
This statement about payment remains in dispute, although we understand New Zealand Immigration has started the deportation process. This begs the question, is this just another example of where fishing companies can legally intimidate seafarers into submission? Or should Immigration be holding the fishing companies to account for their behaviour.
From what we are hearing, it is likely that many of these New Zealand companies are only paying lip service to seafarers' conditions and wages, which is making a mockery out of the 2006 Code of Practice the deepwater fishing companies all signed up to. How big a problem are we talking about? About 2000 foreign crew are working on 27 licensed foreign-chartered fishing vessels in New Zealand waters, catching potentially more than 50 percent of the deepwater catch.
The government supports the use of foreign seamen manning these vessels, provided the crews receive the same terms and conditions as New Zealanders, and the use of FCVs does not provide a competitive advantage over New Zealand crews and the use of New Zealand vessels due to lower labour costs. Yet the sweatshop conditions continue, despite the introduction of the code of practice, says a recently released independent University of Auckland report on labour and human rights
Compact Quiet
Fuel More powerful
Now a complete range of fully electronic diesels with minimum vibration, exceptionally
low sound and low exhaust emissions.
Commercial range up to 800hp. Heavy duty rating. Commercial IPS Systems available.
NZ's top selling marine diesel and most comprehensive dealer network.
See your nearest dealer for details Ph: 0800 865 769
www.volvopenta.co.nz VIP.WB11
September/October 2011 Professional Skipper 19
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS HOWELL
VIP.S69
A Shin Ji pay sheet. This bonus money has yet to be paid
