#Fishing - Renewable work permits for non-EEC nationals in the Irish fishing industry will be limited to 500, the Marine Minister has announced.
According to The Irish Times, Minister Simon Coveney says the new regime would initially apply only to those already employed in ports and on fishing boats, aimed at regularising people who may be working undocumented.
The proposal has been put forward by the cross-departmental taskforce established to investigate claims of widespread exploitation of migrant labour in the Irish fishing fleet. The Guardian's damning report on 2 November has been criticised by many in the industry.
“We want people who are currently working in the fishing industry but are undocumented - we want to change their status to make sure they are legally working here under a contract of employment," said the minister. "Then after that first three months, there will be a quota, a cap if you like, of 500 people.”
The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.