A report from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has highlighted alleged crimes against migrant workers. The report claims that Filipinos get poor pay and face threats and violence. It is found that the Scotland’s fishing industry has been accused of exploiting and abusing migrant workers brought in to man boats because of a shortage of local crews.
According to the ITF, unscrupulous members of the UK fishing fleet are illegally using temporary transport visas to bring in Filipino crewmen for a fraction of the wages they would pay UK crews. Norrie McVicar, UK inspector for the ITF, told that it is a serious problem resulting from the fact that it’s possible to bring in these people under a transit visa without any protection or legal recourse.
The ITF report entitled ‘Migrant Workers in the Scottish and Irish Fishing Industry’ has been ‘established in general that many of the migrant fishermen in Scotland are earning wages as low as £268 per month for working up to 208 hours, an hourly rate of £1.29’. It is mentioned that more than 1,000 Filipinos are estimated to be working in Scotland at the moment, with at least 200 in the Republic of Ireland, 160 in Northern Ireland and an unknown number in England.
It is reported that Filipinos Ramilito Calipayan and Benjamin Potot, both 33, died along with Latvian Rimantis Venckus, aged 50, when fire engulfed the living quarters of the Banff registered Vision II. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive, Bertie Armstrong defended the fishing fleet.
