This investigation looks at how the international nature of the fishing industry enables migrant worker to be overworked and underpaid without it becoming a problem for the offending company. Specifically, it highlights the “United Kingdom loophole”, which allows a Dutch company to exploit the less stringent UK labour laws for migrant workers on international waters.
Focusing on the experiences of Ghanaian fishermen working on crabbing vessels in the North Sea hithlights the potential issues that this loophole could create. The fishermen claimed to have been overworked, with 15-20-hours days, seven days a week, for a very low hourly salary. They had to work through harsh weather conditions, pain and exhaustion. They even claim that they were forced to work when the ship had run out of water and food. Due to a lack of oversight and knowledge of regulations, these problems remain largely undetected by the authorities. This investigation shows that these issues may not be isolated incidents, but rather part of the broader challenges faced by the European fishing industry.
On the right: Photograph by Parcival Weijnen
