UN Human Trafficking Expert calls for NZ to act on Seaborne Sweatshops

Matt Friedman, regional programme manager in Bangkok for the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking has called for New Zealand to act over allegations of slavery on foreign charter boats fishing mainly Maori quotas in the country's exclusive economic zone. It was revealed last week that the foreign crews are paid about an eighth of the New Zealand minimum wage, work long hours without rest, and are subject to beatings if they speak out. Documents obtained by the Sunday Star Times under the Official Information Act have demonstrated that the government has been aware of the situation.

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However, both Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson and Fishing Minister Phil Heatley have denied there is any problem with the approximately 2500 men working on 21 ageing Asian fishing vessels. "Governments don't like to tinker around with industries that add to their economy," Mr Friedman said. "The trick is to stop the slave boats without hurting the legitimate businesses." He told Michael Field that slavery in the fishing industry was an unknown but not uncommon problem. "Many people don't know about this problem. Unlike trafficking into the sex industry, this industry is just now being exposed. But slavery on to boats appears to be a common problem all over the world."

New Zealander Jude Mannion, who helped found the new Hong Kong based anti-slavery organisation the Mekong Club, said that New Zealand's should not be surprised about the findings. "The extreme slavery found within the Asian fishing industry festers just off our shores," she said. "Every day, young men are tricked on to boats believing they can work a few months to make good money to send home, But the reality is that many are held on boats for years; often beaten, drugged, forced to work seven days a week and thrown overboard if they become sick or troublesome. And to add insult to injury, they receive no money after returning to port.