Baldock appalled by foreign vessel abuse
United Future fisheries spokesman Larry Baldock today reiterated his colleague Paul Adam’s call that foreign charter
fishing vessels need to clean up their act or be banned, in the wake of allegations of physical abuse and maltreatment
of their crew.
“That sort of behaviour is absolutely disgraceful and there is no place for it in any New Zealand industry, or through
those who contract into our industries,” Mr Baldock said.
“The Government needs to tell these operators that this sort of behaviour is utterly unacceptable and will never be
tolerated in New Zealand,” he said in the wake of yesterday’s long-awaited report into foreign crew on New Zealand-owned
fishing vessels. The report touched on foreign charter vessels.
He said such behaviour only compounded the questionable pay and employment conditions under which many crew on these
vessels work.
“United Future has consistently called for fair treatment of these and all workers who operate within New Zealand
waters. There are some basic standards of fairness and decency that we as a nation should hold in all employment
matters.
“Getting paid fairly and not getting hit should go without saying,” Mr Baldock said.
Ends.