KARACHI, Feb 12: Various trade unions and organisations supporting the fishing community endorsed the ILO’s ‘Work in Fishing Convention’ and took a unanimous decision in this regard.

A message received here said at a meeting held in Sri Lanka, Negombo on February 11 and 12, the participants from various countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka agreed that the proposed ILO Fishing Convention would significantly contribute to decent work and social security in the marine fishing sector of South Asian workers onboard domestic as well as foreign fishing vessels.

Considering that over 80 per cent of global fish production, fishing fleet and fishing workforce are from Asia, the participants called on the South Asian governments, trade unions and employers to demonstrate an issue-based unity in ensuring that the convention was adopted at the International Labour Conference being held in June 2007.

Any international legal instrument that improves work and living conditions of the fishing community, uphold their dignity, and gives them identity as workers, especially in the context of globalisation should be welcomed, the message quoting participants said.

It was further stressed that the South Asian governments should enter into a proactive dialogue with other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to ensure that the convention was adopted.

It was also suggested that the proposed ILO Work in the Fishing Convention should be seen as a useful and practical guide.

The proposed ‘Work in Convention’ is update and strengthens the existing ILO instrument---the last one was adopted in 1966.