The global landscape of labour rights faces critical challenges, exacerbated by intersecting crises and enduring economic transformations. Increasing rates of extreme poverty, child labour, forced labour, and informal employment highlight the urgent need to address inequalities and ensure decent work for all.

Particularly in the fishing industry, the rights of over 128,000 fishers are severely compromised, with reports of forced labour, debt bondage, wage withholding, and abusive conditions. This exploitation undermines the fundamental principles of labour rights, affecting not only the workers but also the food security of billions worldwide.

In a significant step toward addressing these issues, Ghana has ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention (C188). This ratification establishes an accountability framework mandating compliance with critical labour rights, including fair recruitment practices, occupational safety and health standards, and provisions for social security. It aims to ensure that fishers have access to acceptable working conditions, adequate accommodation, food, water, and medical care while at sea.

To further these goals, a capacity-building program led by Emmanuel Kwame Mensah, is set to take place, aimed at equipping media professionals in Ghana with the necessary tools to advocate effectively for the implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention (C188).

This initiative builds on previous training conducted in 2022, which successfully established a media network focused on forced labour and fair recruitment practices, as well as the production of a quarterly newsletter. However, significant knowledge gaps still exist among media professionals, particularly journalists in local fishing communities across the Western, Central, Volta, and Greater Accra regions.

Objectives

The programme will focus on three key objectives:

Enhance Understanding: Improve the comprehension of media professionals regarding decent work, forced labour, and the specific provisions of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C188).
Develop Communication Strategies: Draft a national media communication and advocacy strategy centred on the ILO Work in Fishing Convention.

Create an Action Plan: Formulate a Media Action Plan aimed at advancing the implementation of labour standards within Ghana’s fishing industry.

Agenda

The agenda for the training sessions will include workshops, expert panel discussions, and collaborative strategy sessions. Participants will engage in hands-on activities to develop advocacy tools and communication strategies that can effectively raise awareness about labour rights in the fishing sector.

Through this initiative, the goal is to empower media practitioners to become informed advocates for the rights of fishers, fostering a media landscape that actively promotes social justice and decent work conditions across Ghana's vital fishing areas.

The training programme is being organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO).