Recognise fisheries workers as labourers: experts – The Daily Star

Report on the Status of Fisheries Workers in Bangladesh and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent analysis by labor experts highlights the urgent need for the official recognition of fisheries workers in Bangladesh as laborers under national law. This report details the precarious conditions faced by approximately 12 million individuals in the fisheries supply chain and underscores the critical gap between their current situation and the achievement of several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary recommendation is the extension of legal protection and social security to all fisheries workers to promote decent work, reduce poverty, and ensure sustainable livelihoods.

Key Challenges and Deficiencies

The fisheries sector, a vital component of the national economy, is characterized by significant labor rights deficits that impede progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The primary challenges are:

• Legal Exclusion: The vast majority of fisheries workers are not covered by existing labor laws, which are limited to those in the fishing trawler and fish processing industries. This exclusion denies them fundamental rights and protections.
• Lack of Decent Work (SDG 8): The absence of a formal wage structure, employment rights, and social security programs leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation and economic instability.
• Poverty and Inequality (SDG 1 & SDG 10): Insufficient government assistance during fishing ban periods and the prevalence of debt cycles trap workers and their families in poverty, exacerbating inequalities.
• Health and Safety Risks (SDG 3): Workers face severe occupational hazards with inadequate protective measures.
  1. Weak protection against natural disasters like storms and tidal surges.
  2. High risk of pirate attacks at sea.
  3. An outdated maritime signaling system, increasing the risk of fatalities.
  4. A near-total absence of provisions for medical care and compensation for work-related injuries.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The failure to protect fisheries workers directly contravenes the principles of several SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): The lack of stable income and social safety nets perpetuates poverty among fishing communities.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The hazardous working conditions and lack of healthcare access undermine the physical and mental well-being of workers.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The current situation is a clear violation of the principles of decent work, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and social protection.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The well-being of the workforce is intrinsically linked to the sustainable management of marine resources. A vulnerable and unprotected labor force cannot be an effective partner in sustainable fishing practices.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Extending legal protection through robust labor laws is a fundamental step towards building just and inclusive institutions that leave no one behind.

Recommendations for Action

To align the fisheries sector with national and global development commitments, the following actions are recommended:

1. Formally recognize all fisheries workers as laborers under the national labor law.
2. Establish and enforce a fair wage structure for all workers across the fisheries supply chain.
3. Implement comprehensive social security programs, including health insurance, compensation for injury, and support during fishing ban periods.
4. Upgrade and enforce safety measures, including modernizing the maritime signaling system and providing adequate protection against environmental and man-made threats.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several issues faced by fisheries workers in Bangladesh, which directly connect to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on labour rights, social protection, and safe working conditions links strongly to goals concerning poverty, decent work, and inequality.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article discusses the fragile livelihoods of fisheries workers, their entrapment in “cycles of debt and loans,” and the insufficiency of government assistance during fishing bans. These issues directly relate to ending poverty in all its forms, as the workers lack a stable income and a social safety net to protect them from falling into poverty.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  This is the most central SDG addressed. The core demands presented in the article—official recognition as labourers, legal protection, social security, fair wage structures, and safe working environments—are all fundamental components of decent work. The article explicitly states that workers lack “employment rights, health and safety measures, medical care, or compensation,” which are key concerns of SDG 8.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article points out a significant inequality where most fisheries workers “remain outside the legal protection” afforded to other labourers, such as those in the fishing trawler and fish processing industries. The call to officially recognise all fisheries workers aims to reduce this inequality by ensuring they have the same rights and protections as others.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  While the article focuses on the human aspect, the livelihoods of fisheries workers are intrinsically linked to the health of marine ecosystems. The mention of “fishing bans” implies a connection to resource management. Securing the livelihoods of small-scale fishers is a component of the sustainable use of marine resources, as their economic stability can reduce pressure for unsustainable practices.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The demand for the government to “officially recognise fisheries workers as labourers” and extend the coverage of labour law is a call for stronger institutions and access to justice. The article highlights that “many provisions of labour law are not followed,” indicating a weakness in institutional enforcement and a lack of legal recourse for these workers.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific problems and demands mentioned, several SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all. The article’s central demand for the government to “provide them with social security” and the statement that “existing social security programmes are insufficient” directly align with this target.
   • Target 1.5: Build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other shocks. The article mentions that protection against “storms, tidal surges” is weak, highlighting the workers’ vulnerability to environmental shocks.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. The call for a “wage structure for workers outside the shrimp and trawler industries” and the provision of “employment rights” relates to achieving decent work for this entire group.
   • Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. This is the most relevant target, as the article extensively details the lack of “legal protection,” “safety measures,” “health and safety measures,” and protection against “pirate attacks.” The mention of an “outdated” signalling system that “increases the risk of death” is a specific example of an unsafe working environment.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality. The demand to extend legal protection, social security, and a formal wage structure to all fisheries workers is a call for policies that would reduce the inequality between them and other formally recognised labourers.

4. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.b: Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets. By advocating for the rights and legal protection of these workers, who are often small-scale fishers, the article supports the foundation upon which secure access to resources and markets can be built. Their economic security is linked to their ability to participate sustainably in the sector.

5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The statement that fisheries workers “remain outside the legal protection” of labour law is a clear issue of unequal access to justice. The call for official recognition is a demand to apply the rule of law to this sector.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that could be used to measure progress:

1. For SDG Target 1.3 (Social Protection):

   • Indicator: Proportion of the fisheries worker population covered by social security programs. The article implies this is currently very low by stating that “existing social security programmes are insufficient.” Progress would be measured by an increase in this proportion.

2. For SDG Target 8.5 (Decent Work):

   • Indicator: Existence of a formal wage structure for all fisheries workers. The article explicitly states, “There is also no wage structure for workers outside the shrimp and trawler industries,” making its establishment a clear measure of progress.

3. For SDG Target 8.8 (Safe Working Environment):

   • Indicator: Number or proportion of fisheries workers covered by national labour law. The article notes that currently, “All other fisheries workers in the country remain outside the legal protection.” An increase in this number would be a key indicator.
   • Indicator: Frequency of occupational accidents, injuries, and fatalities. The article implies this is high due to weak protection against storms and an “outdated” signalling system. A reduction in these incidents would indicate improved safety.
   • Indicator: Proportion of workers receiving compensation for work-related health issues. The article states that “medical care and compensation are almost non-existent,” so any increase would signify progress.

4. For SDG Target 16.3 (Access to Justice):

   • Indicator: The legal status of fisheries workers in national legislation. Progress would be the official amendment of the labour law to include all fisheries workers, as demanded in the article.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thedailystar.net