In 2018, the Fishing Industry Association (FIA) of Papua New Guinea (PNG) committed to implement and comply with a Responsible Sourcing Policy (RSP) that include among other pillars, a pillar looking at the crew welfare, labor, and social requirements for the tuna fleet.
The FIA PNG RSP crew welfare requirements go beyond a public commitment. In 2019, the FIA tuna fleet started a crew welfare and social requirements audit program and implementation. The program was used to assess the labor on-board conditions against International Labour Organization Convention 188 (ILOC188), FFA crew manning, Conservation Management Measure (CMM) on Labor Standards for the crew on fishing vessels, AENOR, Responsible Fishing Vessels Scheme, Maritime Labor Convention 2006 and other 20 guidance, standards and regulations under the on-board social accountability methodology .
As of today, 35% of the FIA tuna fleet part of the MSC fishery certification has been audited, assessed and it is complying with these requirements. This is a journey that FIA is moving ahead with in this area.
On the other hand, since 2012, FIA tuna processing factories members have already been complying with labor and social standard like BSCI agreement and/or other labor and social audit process that include ICS and SEDEX. The FIA RSP extended this commitment to the fishing operation to have a comprehensive fishery approach looking at human rights too and workers’ welfare.
The FIA RSP does not want to re-invent the wheel when it comes to labor on-board and social labor standard. FIA RSP seeks to harmonize with all current standards, guidelines, and regulations to ensure that FIA tuna fleet members comply with them.
FIA is ensuring the tuna supply chain from harvesting, unloading, and processing in this way. FIA will also ensure that it addresses the way business is conducted with ethical, lawfully and integrity, free from child labor; freedom of association; do away with forced labor, equitable wages, benefits, and labor contracts, repatriation; working hours; health and safety; discrimination, harassment, worker voice, grievance mechanisms; and control of suppliers. The FIA RSP policy has been shared with all members and the commitment is publicly available on the FIA website.
FIA MSC fishery certification is the third, largest MSC tuna fishery certified, and it is demonstrating a commitment to social and labor standards in the global tuna fishery.
“Fishery depends on people, — and with our tuna companies being transparently audited against them — we are leading and implementing a unique and positive process in the Pacific and across the world’s tuna fisheries”, the FIA Chairman Sylvester Pokajam stated.
FIA participating tuna member companies include:
Majestic Seafood Corporation Ltd (cannery)
International Food Corporation Ltd (cannery)
RD Tuna Canners Ltd (cannery)
Nambawan Seafood Corporation Ltd (cannery)
South Seas Tuna Corporation Ltd (cannery)
Frabelle Cannery Ltd (cannery)
Frabelle Cannery Ltd (fishing)
Majestic Seafood Corporation Ltd (fishing)
International Food Corporation Ltd (fishing)
Nambawan Seafood Corporation Ltd (fishing)
RD PNG Fishing Ltd (fishing)
Frabelle PNG Fishing Ltd (fishing)
Fair Well Fishing Company (fishing)
TSP Marine Industries (PNG) Ltd (fishing)
Trans-Pacific Journey Fishing Corp (fishing)