Jump to content


MP defends Filipino fishing jobs


6 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

Guest_Steve Ellwood_*
  • Guests

Posted 10 June 2009 - 07:30 AM

Courtesy of The Scotsman On Line @ http://business.scot...hing.5349767.jp

Published Date:  10 June 2009
By JOHN ROSS

AN ISLAND MP is fighting to save the jobs of Filipino fishermen working on Scottish boats.
The UK Border Agency claims that "vulnerable" overseas fishermen are being exploited by the Scottish fishing industry and says it will send home any who are in the country illegally.

But the move has angered fishermen's leaders, who fear many boats will be left crewless if the situation cannot be resolved.

Hundreds of fishermen from the Philippines work on Scottish boats.

The issue has been taken up by Angus MacNeil, MP for the Western Isles, who is seeking a meeting urgently with Phil Woolas, the minister at the Home Office.

He said: "In a letter to fishing boat owners, the Home Office have made clear that they are no longer allowed to have non-EU fishermen in their employment. This issue is going to seriously affect fishing boat owners in the Western Isles."

Mr MacNeil said fishermen's leaders have told him the overseas crews are highly skilled and have completed all the necessary training courses. He added: "We see many nurses from non-EU countries working in the UK, with many of them on temporary work permits; I cannot understand why the same cannot be done for the fishermen."

A spokeswoman for the UK Border Agency said: "At a time of economic downturn, it is inappropriate to import unskilled labour, especially while restrictions remain on EU nationals who are subject to transitional arrangements."


#2 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

Guest_Steve Ellwood_*
  • Guests

Posted 10 June 2009 - 07:36 AM

This from the Shetland Marine News @ http://www.shetlandm...n’s_visas.htm



Hans J Marter

10 June, 2009

THE few Filipino fishermen employed on Shetland whitefish boats are not affected by visa rules that impact on their fellow countrymen who work the waters off the western isles.

Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP Angus MacNeil is seeking an urgent meeting with home office minister Phil Woolas after boat owners in his constituency were told by the government that they were no longer allowed to have non EU fishermen in their employment.

He said there were a large number of fishermen from the Philippines working in the Outer Hebrides and the ruling would affect the viability of boats.

Meanwhile Shetland Fishermen's Association chief executive Hansen Black said the ruling had to do with whether the fishing took place outside or inside the 12 miles zone.

Whitefish boats based in Shetland, Fraserburgh or Peterhead, generally did not encounter the visa problem because they were fishing in what is classed as international waters.

"The Filipinos are here on an international transit visa, and the rules are that you have to leave port and go into international waters, which is outside 12 miles, before returning to port.

"With all the islands in the west of Scotland area, the 12 miles limit encompasses a massive amount of water. It is the boats that are never outside the 12 miles that are being caught by this," he said.

Mr MacNeil said: "This issue is going to seriously affect fishing boat owners in the western isles, as there are many hardworking fishermen from the Philippines employed on boats in the islands.

"Fishermen's leaders inform me that the fishermen are highly skilled and have completed all the necessary training courses.

"We see many nurses from non-EU countries working in the UK, with many of them on temporary work permits. I cannot understand why the same cannot be done for the fishermen."


#3 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

Guest_Steve Ellwood_*
  • Guests

Posted 13 June 2009 - 08:08 AM

Courtesy of FishUpdate.com @ http://www.fishupdat...ome_Office.html

Western Isles MP Seeks Meeting with the Home Office
Published:  12 June, 2009

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister of State at the Home Office Phil Woolas MP regarding the issue of fisherman from the Philippines working on Scottish fishing boats.

A press statement issued by the SNP explains: "This will particularly affect many fishing boats in the Western Isles, where there are a large number of fishermen from the Philippines currently working. In a letter to fishing boat owners the Home Office have made clear that they are no longer allowed to have non EU fishermen in their employment.

Mr MacNeil said:
“This issue is going to seriously affect fishing boat owners in the Western Isles, as there are many hardworking fishermen from the Philippines employed on boats in the islands.

“Fishermen’s leaders inform me that the fishermen are highly skilled and have completed all the necessary training courses.

“We see many nurses from Non EU countries working in the UK, with many of them on temporary work permits; I cannot understand why the same cannot be done for the fishermen.

“I am now seeking an urgent meeting with the Home Office Minister, Phil Woolas MP, in connection with this issue, to see what can be done.”


#4 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

Guest_Steve Ellwood_*
  • Guests

Posted 16 June 2009 - 07:34 AM

Perhaps some 'better news'? - courtesy of the Stornoway Gazette @ http://www.stornoway...cond.5359228.jp

UK Borders Agency having second thoughts over Filipino fishermen
Published Date: 11 June 2009
By Taylor Edgar

THE UK Borders Agency appears to have taken a step back from their crackdown on fishermen from the Philippines following a meeting with Na H-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil.
Afterwards Mr MacNeil told the Gazette: "I have had talks with the Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Borders Agency, Mr Jonathon Sedgwick regarding the alarm caused in the fishing community with the risk of losing skilled Filipino fishermen from the industry due to the UKBA's actions.

"While Mr Sedgwick indicated that the UKBA felt that the current situation could not continue he did not want to devastate the industry and would take on board specific information regarding the fishermen from the Islands and West Coast fishing Community before permanent action would be taken."

The UKBA official also indicated that he wanted to maintain dialogue with the Isles MP over the coming weeks in order to further understand the specific problems.

The UKBA have been warned by Mr MacNeil that if they continue with their blanket approach, fishing leaders and skippers maintain that boats will have to tie up, as there is no pool labour available with the certification of many of the fishermen from the Philippines.

"In short it is becoming apparent that the Migration Advisory Committee has to treat fishing as the skilled occupation it actual is. Such a change approach would allow the highly regarded men from the Philippines a better opportunity to stay and work on the west coast of Scotland," commented Mr MacNeil.

"Meanwhile the UKBA have already stopped some fishermen returning to Scotland and I did raise a specific case he asked that I furnish him with further details. Therefore I would encourage any Western Isles fishermen who have specific difficulties with the UK Border Agency and fisherman to contact my office in the first instance."


#5 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

Guest_Steve Ellwood_*
  • Guests

Posted 02 July 2009 - 10:08 PM

Filipino crew allowed to stay

Filipino fishing boat crewmen threatened with deportation have been given a temporary reprieve, it was announced.

A deal between the Scottish Government and the UK Border Agency will give more time for fishing boat owners to comply with the rules.

But action will continue to be taken where there are "blatant and deliberate" abuse of the law, officials said.

Copyright © 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved.


#6 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

Guest_Steve Ellwood_*
  • Guests

Posted 04 July 2009 - 07:40 AM

Courtesy of the Scotsman On Line @ http://business.scot...pers.5425948.jp


Deportation reprieve for skippers

Published Date: 03 July 2009
By Frank Urquhart

SCOTTISH skippers have been granted a vital reprieve from the forced deportation of foreign fishermen working on their boats.

An action plan, which will give Scotland's fishing fleets a breathing space to avoid critical crew shortages, has been agreed with the Home Office, following the intervention of Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Fisheries Secretary.

For several years a number of Scottish trawlers have relied on Filipino and Eastern European fishermen to help crew their boats because of a shortage of local trained crewmen.

Concerns about the use of foreign crewmen were first raised in August last year following the deaths of two Filipino fishermen and a Latvian crewman in a fire on board a trawler at Fraserburgh harbour.

Following routine inspections by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) over March and April this year, the owners of 20 fishing boats in Britain, including an unspecified number of Scottish vessels, received enforcement letters ordering that their Filipino crewmen should be repatriated by a deadline of 2 July.

But yesterday the Scottish Government announced that the repatriation orders had been put on hold following talks between Mr Lochhead and Phil Woolas, the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration.

A Government spokesman said: "The UK Border Agency has now written again to vessel owners who were recently issued with notices to repatriate their Filipino crew, giving them more time while further consideration is given to the matter."

Mr Lochhead said: "I welcome Mr Woolas' commitment to work with the Scottish Government and the UK Border Agency to resolve this difficult situation."

The reprieve was welcomed by Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation. He said: "We are working as hard as possible with the Scottish Government to reinvigorate recruitment to the industry, but fishing is not for everyone and the process will take time."


#7 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

Guest_Steve Ellwood_*
  • Guests

Posted 06 July 2009 - 07:55 AM

Courtesy of FIS @  Deadline extended for repatriation of Filipino crewmen

Click on the flag for more information about United Kingdom UNITED KINGDOM
Friday, July 03, 2009, 23:10 (GMT + 9)

Scottish officials have agreed to extend the 2 July deadline of a fishing fleets plan to repatriate their Filipino crews as authorities continue to explore the issue.

The new plan will inform the timescale of future targeted enforcement activities by border agents to guarantee that the UK fishing industry abides by immigration laws.

Discussions regarding the employment of non-European Economic Area migrants across the inshore fleet took place this week between Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead and Phil Woolas MP, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration.

"I welcome Mr Woolas' commitment to work with the Scottish Government and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to resolve this difficult situation,” Lochhead said. "We have agreed to work together to clarify existing immigration laws to see how the needs of the industry can be met.”

The 20 inshore vessel owners who had received notices from the UKBA to repatriate their Filipino crews by 2 July were contacted again and given more time while the situation is further pondored upon and the action plan is implemented.

Meanwhile, the government is looking to draw new people to the industry as repatriating Filipino fishers would cause massive crew shortages and adversely impact the fishing industry.

“In order to address the skills shortage the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) will make the case for fishing crewmen to be added to the Scottish Shortage Occupation List through the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC),” Lochhead said. “We are acutely aware that our fleets need to be sustained in the long term and the importance of attracting new blood into the industry.”

“Our New Entrants Working Group is already developing improved ways of promoting the sector. This plan will allow us to determine sensible transitional arrangements so that the industry does not suffer undue disruption," he added.

In May, Lochhead announced that the newly founded joint government/industry New Entrants Working Group is developing ways to make the industry appear more attractive to new people. It is also working on communicating the opportunities available across the catching sectors.

These actions will ease Scottish owners’ adjustment to the new paradigm, it is hoped.

The Scottish Shortage Occupation List contains skilled occupants compiled from recommendations made to Ministers by the independent MAC where there is proof of a specific shortage. The next review of the Scottish and UK Shortage Occupation Lists, which will facilitate the recruiting of overseas workers, will be in September.

Deadline extended for repatriation of Filipino crewmen

Friday, July 03, 2009, 23:10 (GMT + 9)

Scottish officials have agreed to extend the 2 July deadline of a fishing fleets plan to repatriate their Filipino crews as authorities continue to explore the issue.

The new plan will inform the timescale of future targeted enforcement activities by border agents to guarantee that the UK fishing industry abides by immigration laws.

Discussions regarding the employment of non-European Economic Area migrants across the inshore fleet took place this week between Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead and Phil Woolas MP, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration.

"I welcome Mr Woolas' commitment to work with the Scottish Government and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to resolve this difficult situation,” Lochhead said. "We have agreed to work together to clarify existing immigration laws to see how the needs of the industry can be met.”

The 20 inshore vessel owners who had received notices from the UKBA to repatriate their Filipino crews by 2 July were contacted again and given more time while the situation is further pondored upon and the action plan is implemented.

Meanwhile, the government is looking to draw new people to the industry as repatriating Filipino fishers would cause massive crew shortages and adversely impact the fishing industry.

“In order to address the skills shortage the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) will make the case for fishing crewmen to be added to the Scottish Shortage Occupation List through the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC),” Lochhead said. “We are acutely aware that our fleets need to be sustained in the long term and the importance of attracting new blood into the industry.”

“Our New Entrants Working Group is already developing improved ways of promoting the sector. This plan will allow us to determine sensible transitional arrangements so that the industry does not suffer undue disruption," he added.

In May, Lochhead announced that the newly founded joint government/industry New Entrants Working Group is developing ways to make the industry appear more attractive to new people. It is also working on communicating the opportunities available across the catching sectors.

These actions will ease Scottish owners’ adjustment to the new paradigm, it is hoped.

The Scottish Shortage Occupation List contains skilled occupants compiled from recommendations made to Ministers by the independent MAC where there is proof of a specific shortage. The next review of the Scottish and UK Shortage Occupation Lists, which will facilitate the recruiting of overseas workers, will be in September.




Reply to this topic