Ireland is set to introduce a visa quota for non-European Economic Area (EEA) workers, establishing a minimum annual salary of EUR 34,000 (USD 36,720) for foreign employees on Irish fishing vessels. This new policy will be applicable to workers from countries outside the EEA, including the EU and several non-EU states but excluding Britain. The initiative expands the General Employment Permit (GEP) system—previously utilized in sectors like food processing and manufacturing—to the fisheries sector. The revised salary threshold for GEP workers has been increased from EUR 30,000 (USD 32,400) to EUR 34,000 starting in 2024. Consequently, Irish fishing companies must comply with this new salary minimum for workers hired under the GEP.
The implementation of this salary adjustment experienced delays, with the Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment requiring a verification process to ensure these roles could not be filled by EU citizens. Legislative changes were also needed, pending approval by Ireland’s parliament. Michael O’Brien of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITWF) in Dublin expressed concerns over whether Irish fishing companies would adhere to the new salary regulations or continue employing undocumented workers. He highlighted the ongoing issue of non-European fishers being hired without proper documentation.
The ITWF has previously criticized the Irish government for not adequately addressing human trafficking and abuses in the fishing industry. This criticism was linked to Ireland’s ranking in the “Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2021” by the U.S. State Department, which monitors human trafficking globally. In 2023, the ITWF accused the Irish government of failing to fulfill a pledge to protect migrant fishery workers, lacking the promised legislative amendments. Additionally, the ITWF is supporting four Ghanaian fishermen who survived a trawler sinking off Ireland’s west coast in March 2024, alleging their fraudulent employment and illegal working status in Ireland. Requests for comments from the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO) by Seafood Source received no response.
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