End abuse in Irish fishing industry, says union

One of Europe’s largest transport unions has asked the European Commission to establish a high-level taskforce to “intervene” in the alleged abuse of non-EU fishermen here.

The European Transport Workers Federation, which represents 3.5m workers in transport and fisheries in 41 European countries, has also demanded the Irish Government “take action to eliminate human trafficking from the Irish fishing industry”.

ETF general secretary Eduardo Chagas has written separate letters to both the European Commission and Marine Minister Simon Coveney expressing his organisation’s concerns at reports of exploitation in the industry, including sleep deprivation, inhumane hours and low pay — well below the Irish minimum wage.