The International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) promotes the sustainable management of the world’s responsible pole-and-line, handline and troll (collectively known as ‘one-by-one’) tuna fisheries while also recognising the importance of safeguarding the livelihoods they support.
IPNLF’s work to develop, support and promote one-by-one tuna fisheries is subsequently fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We believe effective and equitable global governance is essential to protect and restore the ocean, and this should be achieved by ensuring the participation of local and coastal communities in decision-making processes.
The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) is an international federation of trade unions representing workers employed, among other sectors, in aquaculture, fish and seafood growing and processing. The IUF is composed of 421 affiliated trade unions in 128 countries representing over 10 million workers. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland. From its founding in 1920, international labour solidarity has been the IUFå«s guiding principle. This principle is implemented through: building solidarity at every stage of the food chain, international organizing within transnational companies (TNCs) global action to defend human, democratic, and trade union rights.
Ulula’s worker voice platform connects businesses to the workers they affect to create a more transparent, accountable and productive supply chains. By leveraging diverse and accessible information communication technology (ICT) to connect businesses with their stakeholders in real-time, companies gather information in real-time directly from stakeholders and enhance social dialogue between the stakeholders.
Workers can interact with the system through voice calls, text message, custom apps, WhatsApp, as well as the web to adapt to local context and needs. The Ulula platform works anywhere in the world, across languages and scripts to ensure stakeholders can easily participate.
Workers submit information anonymously and data is analyzed to provide companies a comprehensive living report on conditions inside factory walls. Not only does this aim to mitigate risk but also ensures complete transparency across the supply chain anywhere in the world to better manage working conditions.
The integrated platform for data collection and content management enables:
– Automated surveys to continuously monitor working conditions and community perception. Source questions from Ulula’s question bank or create custom questions to meet institutional and certification standards;
– Send mass broadcasts for continued engagement of target population;
– Set-up grievance management systems to manage stakeholder feedback and reconcile issues
Using Ulula’s tool, clients and partners can continuously monitor labour conditions, enabling them to address issues proactively and invest in remediation programs. Suppliers benefit from a more engaged workforce, reducing turnover, thereby increasing productivity and demonstrating compliance. Workers are continuously engaged and have the ability to contribute insights and anonymously to raise grievances across the entire supply chain.
The Labor Safe Screen is designed to help seafood companies identify and reduce the risk of slavery in their supply chains. It is a 5-part framework for seafood buyers, sellers and traders to use to reduce risks in work in the seafood sector. It includes supply chain mapping, risk identification based on findings by competent authorities, surveys to collect proof of protective conditions in the workplace, and support for implementing the minimum requirements in international law (code of conduct, universal contract, grievance mechanism, and disclosure of efforts). It includes a tiered approach for screening a large number of products. Combining data from suppliers and workers is a key feature. Users of the Labor Safe Screen manage risks with quantitative scoring and produce positive coverage for their goods and the people making them.
Naturland is one of the major international associations for organic agriculture and promotes organic farming worldwide. Currently over 65,000 farmers, bee-keepers, fish farmers and fishers in 58 countries are working according to the Naturland Standards. The Naturland organic agriculture certification program is unique in that, unlike other organic certifications (e.g. the USDA’s National Organic), Naturland has included social responsibility into the standard with equal weight. In November 2006, the Naturland Assembly of Delegates adopted the first Standards for Sustainable Capture Fishery. The Naturland Wildfish certification standards approach sustainability holistically and include ecological, social, and environmental dimensions. Naturland Wildfish Social Responsibility standards include: – respect of basic human rights as listed in UN conventions and ILO conventions and/or recommendations; – freedom to accept or reject employment; -freedom of association and/or access to trade unions; – equal treatment and opportunities; – the complete absence of child labor; – basic health and safety provisions; – employment contracts; – fair wages; – payment in kind; – fair working hours; and – basic coverage for maternity, sickness, and retirement.
The Solidarity Center is the largest U.S.-based international worker rights organization helping workers attain safe and healthy workplaces, family-supporting wages, dignity on the job and greater equity at work and in their community. Allied with the AFL-CIO and working with 400-plus labor unions, NGOs, human rights defenders and community groups, the Solidarity Center assists workers across the globe as, together, they fight discrimination, exploitation and the systems that entrench poverty. It supports programs‰ÛÓe.g., trainings, education campaigns, legal aid, research and transparency initiative‰ÛÓthat help workers understand and exercise their rights, improve their working and living conditions, and build independent unions, including in the fishing and seafood sectors. The Solidarity Center has issued several publications on the fish and seafood sector, including: The Plight of Shrimp-Processing Workers of Southwestern Bangladesh (2012), Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Human Trafficking and Exploitation of Migrant Fishing Boat Workers in Thailand (2009), and The True Cost of Shrimp (2008).
EJF conducts detailed field-based investigations, coupled with extensive background research to inform high-level advocacy directed at policy makers and key industry stake-holders. In some circumstances, EJF will provide specialist training and support, both to Government and civil society. We work in collaboration with a diverse range of stake-holders.
For over 30 years, CI has been protecting nature for the benefit of global humanity. We do this through science, policy and partnerships with countries, communities and companies. Our oceans program is committed to sustainable production, ensuring that seafood is environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. We have invested significant effort in functioning as a catalyst and convener on social responsibility, driving alignment among organizations that work with businesses, governments, and civil society groups involved in the seafood sector on a shared definition and collective action plan for progress: and developing a strong and diverse community of practice, comprised of environmental and social nonprofit organizations, academic researchers, consultants, and other key experts.
In Bangladesh, Winrock works with civil society organizations to build their capacity to raise awareness and advocate for addressing the health risks of fish-drying factories. Winrock also works with CSOs to identify and promote alternative livelihoods and opportunities for vulnerable families and children to reduce the prevalence of child labor in the dried fish sector. In Cambodia, Winrock raises awareness on safe migration and improves livelihoods through resources and training to those who might otherwise be lured into servitude on fishing vessels. Winrock and its partners also work to ensure survivors of trafficking from fishing vessels receive holistic care, reintegration services, and competent legal assistance as they pursue compensation. In Thailand, Winrock has recently partnered with a multi-national corporation to reduce and prevent human trafficking in the Thai fishing sector through: better connectivity at sea, which will enable emergency response and workers‰Ûª voice; development of response protocols that are expected to be implemented throughout the industry, as well as promoting ethical labor recruitment practices. Finally, Winrock is engaging the Thai government in order to improve victim identification, assistance and strengthen complaint mechanisms.
Liberty Shared aims to prevent human trafficking through: strategic research: capture and application of information and data: legal advocacy: technological interventions: and strategic collaborations with NGOs, corporations, and financial institutions. Liberty Shared is using its systemic approach to combat slavery and environmental crimes in the fishing industry. This is done by: using research of industry structure and dynamics and the support of the financial sector: sharing key counter-trafficking data and best practices with strategic partners and industry, and channeling intelligence on slavery activities with the corporate community: championing legal and regulatory developments that obligate industry responses to receipt of new information, and improving the understanding of victim identification and protection: creating slavery education and awareness programs to enact change in all sectors of society: collaboration with database providers in the financial sector to share information relevant to anti-money laundering risk and compliance.
NSF provides expert product evaluations, laboratory testing, certification, audits/inspections, speciation, consulting and training for the seafood industry. We work with all types of clients including importers, exporters, processors, aquaculture farms/facilities, retailers, restaurants and distributors to help ensure product safety, quality, consistency, transparency and sustainability. Known as the global seafood solution provider, this specialized division of NSF International has a dedicated staff backed by decades of seafood knowledge and hands-on experience. We understand your needs and strive to become a valuable resource by delivering non-biased, factual and logical information for management decisions.
SAI Global can help develop a focused seafood safety, social, and sustainability program consistent with your customer, regulatory and CSR goals. We provide a range of standard certification, training, supply chain mapping, FIP measurement and social accountability audit and score card solutions tailored to business needs and supply chain expectations.