Skippers may have to stop recruiting Filipino crew

TWO-THIRDS OF WEST COAST FISHING BOATS FACED HARDSHIP AFTER LAST CRACKDOWN

Fresh fears have emerged that Scottish fishing skippers are to be forced to stop recruiting crew from the Philippines.

Emergency measures agreed by the Home Office in July allowed breathing space for Scotland’s fishing fleet amid a crisis which had threatened to leave it with severe crew shortages.

Two-thirds of fishing boats on Scotland’s west coast faced hardship after the UK Border Agency (UKBA) ordered all Filipino crew on inshore vessels to go home.

But the emergency measures and further steps taken by the industry in September, when fishing leaders secured an agreement on visas for Filipino crewmen, allowed recruitment from the south-east Asian country to continue.

Now, it is feared the situation could be about to change – leaving skippers at risk of losing existing crew members as well as an important source of industry-ready workers.

According to Mallaig and North West Fishermen’s Association secretary John Hermse, there are about 900 Filipinos currently working on Scottish boats.

Mr Hermse said they were making a huge contribution to the industry, bringing skills which were difficult to find in Scotland.

He highlighted the recent case of a west coast skipper who advertised locally for crewmen, only to be let down badly by all three people who took up jobs.

Two of the recruits lasted just a few days and the third just wanted the work to satisfy benefit requirements, said Mr Hermse, adding that none of the trio were suited for work at sea.

Mr Hermse said: “If recruitment from the Philippines is stopped, then a lot of boats will not have enough crew to go to sea.

“They will find it extremely difficult to attract and retain other workers.”

The latest fears are based on reports from recruitment agents in the Philippines who have allegedly been told that a UKBA crackdown is on its way.

But the UKBA insisted talks aimed at resolving the matter were still ongoing.

Jonathan Sedgwick, the agency’s chief executive, said: “We have been holding discussions with those involved in the fishing industry and devolved governments about how the health, safety and welfare of foreign nationals working in the fishing fleet can be protected and how we can ensure that they are not being exploited.”

“The viability of the UK’s fishing fleet cannot be delivered on the back of exploitation.”

Mr Sedgwick said it was “inappropriate to import unskilled labour”, especially while restrictions remained on some EU nationals.

He added: “The agency will enforce our laws and ensure that those who are in the UK illegally, leave.

“This tough action works alongside the points-based immigration system to safeguard the interests of local workers.”

Western Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil urged the UK Government to put any planned changes on hold until the results of a submission to the migration advisory committee – making the case for fishing crewmen to be added to the Scottish shortage occupation list – are known. - KEITH FINDLAY, The Press and Journal, 18/11/2009