Employment in the fishing industry
Precarious working conditions are particularly prevalent on small and medium-sized fishing vessels.
Many workers, often migrants, work without a formal employment contract, for low pay, on long shifts and without compensation for overtime. They often do not know how long they will have to remain on board – sometimes for months, occasionally even years, without a break. In the worst-case scenario, they end up in debt bondage: they must first pay ‘fees’ for job placement, food and accommodation on the boat (see also ‘Forced and compulsory labour’).