Seychellois and other non-European seamen on purse-seiners gets raw deal

Five years after an agreement was signed providing for better salaries and other working conditions for Seychellois and other non-European seamen aboard the purse seiners, this is still in limbo. The Government of Seychelles has not seen it fit to fight for Seychellois seamen. They kept a dignified silence whilst the local seamen endured dangerous conditions of work on the European purse-seiners.

  This newspaper has learnt that last week members of the National Assembly from both sides of the Chamber were to be informed of the issue so that maybe they can do something over an issue which they have neglected to the detriment of our hard working seamen. The agreement was worked out in 2002 by a French Maritime Union.

“Syndicat Maritime Bretagne” with the European ship-owners, which also involved the fisheries, social affairs and employment commissions based in Brussels.  In Victoria, the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), the Fisheries Ministry at the time and the ‘Apostolat de la Mer’ were also party to the negotiations.

In the Indian Ocean, the main beneficiaries of the new salaries and conditions were to be some 100 Seychellois seamen working on French and Spanish purse seiners. Other non-EU crew members of the European fishing fleet in the western Indian Ocean, notably the Malagasies, Kenyans, Senegalese, Ghanaians and Ivorians were also to benefit.

The basic wage was to be $ 450 or the national basic salary, whichever is greater.  The agreement also covered holiday pay, hourly overtime rates for all ranks as well as insurance cover for sickness, accident and death.

In addition, all the crew members of EU purse seiners were to enjoy the same accommodation, diet, hygiene and safety conditions as the European crew. To date, very little in the agreement has been implemented. We hope the MNA's take the matter up (as soon as possible), now that they are on holiday and still enjoying their fat salaries and other perks they have awarded to themselves.

We understand, some use the opportunity to fly quite a bit. They should also spare a thought for those who kept our fisheries running. After all, it is the second pillar of the economy after tourism with significant net earnings in foreign currency.

August 22, 2008
Copyright 2007: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles