On 18 March a delegation from the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), including General Secretary Livia Spera, Head of the Maritime Department Josef Maurer and Senior Policy Officer for Fisheries Andrea Albertazzi, met with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis. The meeting focused on strengthening the social dimension within the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Oceans Pact.
The ETF representatives emphasized that discussions on the social dimension must directly address the working conditions, pay, social security, and safety of sector workers. They highlighted the pressing issue of the sector’s declining attractiveness to young workers and urged the European Commission to take concrete steps to make fisheries a more appealing career choice.
One of the key concerns raised was the growing reliance on migrant workers in the EU fishing fleet. The ETF warned of the risks of social dumping and exploitative labor practices, stressing that employment conditions, wages, and working standards should never fall below the benchmarks set by collective bargaining agreements and legislation.
The meeting also covered critical industry challenges, such as gross tonnage limitations, crew space onboard, and the aging EU fishing fleet. The ETF proposed exploring ways to expand the mandate of existing EU agencies to oversee the enforcement of decent working conditions in line with ILO Convention C188.
Commissioner Kadis acknowledged the ETF as a key stakeholder in the fisheries sector and expressed appreciation for its contributions. He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to incorporating a robust social dimension into upcoming policy exercises, including the CFP evaluation, the Oceans Pact and the decarbonization strategy. He assured that efforts would be made to enhance onboard conditions, promote generational renewal in the workforce, and improve crew safety.
The ETF delegation welcomed the Commissioner’s more balanced approach compared to his predecessor and noted his willingness to maintain ongoing dialogue with the ETF and its affiliates. .