Decency of Work in the Indian Fishing Industry

Abstract

The conditions of work in fisheries has received concern internationally, especially following the inhumane treatment of workers in Thailand and other South East Asian countries. While not as markedly severe, the conditions of work in Indian fisheries are far from optimal. This paper is an attempt to assess these conditions through the use of indicators developed by the International Labor Office in the context of Decent Work. Findings from NSSO 68th round data suggest that the level of job security is highly inadequate among most who are employed in fisheries in the country. There is a marked bias towards employing women, especially in unskilled tasks. Child labor, while not a cause for alarming concern, does exist to a minor degree in the industry. Furthermore, freshwater fishing was found to afford lower standards of work than marine fishing. Significant regulation and policy action are called into requirement by these observations.