Worker-less social responsibility: How the proliferation of voluntary labour governance tools in seafood marginalise the workers they claim to protect. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Decker Sparks, Jessica L.; Matthews, Lee; Cárdenas, Daniel; Williams, Chris
• Is Part Of: Marine policy. Volume 139(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Corporate social responsibility -- Labour rights -- Human rights -- Worker-driven social responsibility; Marine resources -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Periodicals; Ressources marines -- Aspect économique -- Périodiques; Pêches -- Périodiques; Fisheries; Marine resources -- Economic aspects; Periodicals; 333.916405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-597X

Abstract

Abstract: In response to labour and human rights violations onboard fishing vessels, the private sector is increasingly relying on market-based solutions in the form of voluntary, non-governmental social governance tools to improve working conditions for fishers. While the proliferation of these tools is relatively recent in fishing, there is substantial evidence from other sectors that these voluntary standards fail to transform working conditions. Yet, there remains an insistence on using market-based solutions to mitigate labour abuses in fishing despite the problem being a market failure. Using a human and labour-rights based analytical paradigm that underpins worker-centric processes, we constructed objective criteria to assess several voluntary standards against. Failing to include workers and commit to meaningful remedy, findings from the analysis suggests these voluntary non-governmental social governance tools are not able to ensure that human and labour rights are respected in a way that is consistent with state and international regulation or rigorous human rights due diligence. As a result, there is an urgent need for a transformational shift in the sector away from a worker-less reactive and adaptive corporate social responsibility strategy of doing less harm toward a fundamental commitment to redistributing power through a worker-driven social responsibility paradigm. Highlights: The use of voluntary tools in response to labour abuses in fisheries is growing. Workers are often excluded from the development of these tools. The tools fail key tests when compared to worker-centric processes. Future initiatives should instead use worker-driven principles and monitoring.