Lithuania sets green light for entry into force of the Work in Fishing Convention
On 16 November, the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Andrius Krivas, officially deposited ratification instrument for the Work in Fishing Convention, signed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, with International Labour Organization Legal advisor Mr. Georges P. Politakis. It was the last ratification required for the Convention to enter into force.
This Convention will enter into force on 16 November, 2017, after 12 months will pass since ILO Director General’s registration of ratification instruments of 10 countries, of which at least 8 are coast countries. Lithuania became the 10th country which ratified the Convention.
ILO Work in Fishing Convention No. 188 is a big contribution to the creation of safer and more sustainable fishing sector. It seeks to improve working conditions for fishers and guarantee fair competition among owners of fishing vessels.
By evaluating fishing as a hazardous profession comparing to other professions, the Convention contains provisions designed to ensure that workers in the fishing sector have improved occupational safety and health and medical care at sea; have improved working, accommodation and food supply conditions; and have the same social security protection as other workers.
The Convention is applicable to all fishers and all fishing vessels taking part in commercial fishing operations (in the Convention commercial fishing means all fishing operations in rivers, lakes or channels, except fishing for subsistence and recreational fishing).
By ratifying the Convention, a state commits to fully implement its provisions by its entry into force in order to guarantee the right to decent work for all fishers. The Government will appoint institutions to prepare all necessary projects of legislation for the implementation of the Convention in the next 12 months.
This Convention No. 188 will replace four previously adopted conventions: Minimum Age (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 112), Medical Examination (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 113), Fishermen's Articles of Agreement Convention, 1959 (No. 114), Accommodation of Crews (Fishermen) Convention, 1966 (No. 126).
