The ITF has called for the immediate payment of all monies due to them and assistance to return home for a group of Indonesian fishers who have been stranded in Dingle, County Kerry, since Monday, 11th March, when they left their vessel due to unbearable working conditions. ITF Inspector, Michael Whelan, said: “On Monday, 11th March, 13 men who have been working on board the fisher trawler, the Christian M, presented themselves at Dingle Garda Station. They have stated that for months they have been working on the UK registered vessel without their working hours being properly recorded and in oppressive conditions.“The vessel is currently detained in Dingle Harbour under the authority of the Irish Maritime Survey Office and the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency as it is being investigated for numerous alleged violations. “The fishers remain on board the vessel without any commitment from the owner to pay them the monies outstanding to them. We are demanding the immediate payment of all monies due to these men by the owners of the vessel and assistance in their repatriation to Indonesia.” He added: “Although the situation in Dingle is an extreme case it is of a type which unfortunately is coming to the attention of the ITF regularly. Indeed, this vessel was itself detained in November 2017 in Castletownbere, county Cork, for similar employment problems and due to a cockroach infestation.”
ITF calls for immediate action to assist Indonesian fishers stranded in Dingle
