SUVA, Fiji (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently conducted a workshop on Strategic Compliance Planning in Fiji Fisheries.The aim was to assist government agencies in Fiji to enhance how they work together to promote improved compliance with labour standards on fishing vessels in Fiji waters. The workshop was also attended by representatives from the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), development partners, and civil society organizations.

During the workshop, participants shared current practices and explored strategies for improving compliance in the fishing sector with a wide range of Fijian laws and regulations. Discussions identified a number of pressing labour and social issues that need to be addressed in the industry, from safe and decent working conditions, to human trafficking and forced labour. Participants agreed on the need to act urgently to address these failures to provide decent work to fishers.

The workshop participants expressed their commitment to form a working group to implement their proposed strategic compliance plan for the industry. The ILO will continue to support the efforts of the working group.

The strategic compliance planning workshop was the first ever in the Pacific fishing industry. Others may follow in the region.

The workshop was part of a broader programme to promote sustainable and equitable fishing practices, with a goal of achieving thriving fisheries that are free from exploitation and harm to workers.

The workshop was delivered as part of a New Zealand government-funded project – Labour Standards on Fishing Vessels. The ILO is implementing the project jointly with the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).