Laws to crack down on fishing industry exploitation

From May 15, all non-EU fishermen seeking to work in the industry here will have to apply for “atypical worker permission” and if successful will have to be given proper contracts of employment and be paid statutory minimum wages as employees of the boat owner.

The move by the Government is in response to widely reported exploitation of non-EU nationals in the industry in recent years.

Before an application is even lodged with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for the Atypical Permission, a contract of employment will have to be lodged with a central depository based in Clonakilty, Co Cork.