Scottish White Fish Producers Association Ltd funding: EIR release

Information requested

We note the SWFPA were awarded money for "WDSR project" - see

https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-fund-scotland-grants-awarded/

Scottish White Fish Producers Association Ltd (SWFPA Ltd); Worker Driven Social Responsibility; total cost £55k; Funded amount £35k Could we ask what the money is for please? Or see the application that was submitted?

Response

I enclose a copy of the information requested.

Approach or Techniques

We are looking to build a worker driven code of conduct in collaboration with the International Transport Federation. That code of conduct will be applied across the sector as a whole in line with approach used by the Fair Food Programme in Florida. This provides security to the workers and is supported by the large retailers who pay a premium price for the product, which in their case is tomatoes. Through our crewing arm, SWFPA Crew Services, we have focussed on professionalizing the recruitment of non-uk crew. To aid us to deliver the best service possible we have built a platform that holds all the information in relation to the workers that we bring into the country. Moving forward as we try and protect the Scottish sector as a whole with our 'Fair Fish Programme' we need to further develop the platform so that others can use the same system to access information on their crew, whether it be a skipper, or a company that may have several vessels. The app is linked to our platform as without that crew wouldn't have access to their documents and/or certificates. As mentioned elsewhere the app has the facility for the crew to lunch a grievance with a third party audit process that will be delivered by 'Focus on Labour Exploitation' (FLEX), vessels will routinely audited against the code of conduct. This approach and process is an attempt to give confidence to the market that the sourcing of Scottish fish can be done in the confidence that the worker experience is the best possible. This approach would be unique in the catching sector.

Affect on Economy

The impact should be significant as without putting some new secure measures in place there is the distinct possibility that sectors, such as the Scampi industry, will come under immense pressure through reduced demand as retailers question the worker driven policies in place.

Workforce Development

It will secure contracts currently in place for the processors which by default will maintain employment levels and possibly increase those levels although it is hard to quantify the impact beyond that. It will certainly enhance the image of the catching sector.

Seafood Supply chain

The project will certainly provide better links between civil society through groups such as ITF and the sector itself.

Promotion Abroad

It will certainly allow us to promote the worker driven policies we have in place which are now scrutinised heavily.

Impact on Community

The impacts will be significant for worker satisfaction and the security that measures are in place to support the worker. The impact of a grievance being upheld or a vessel failing to deliver against the code of conduct will mean the vessel is removed from the scheme. This economic shock to the business, as it is the intention to get the retailers through the processors to only purchase from vessels in the scheme, will be such that it will be in their interest to ensure best social practice is being followed. It is similar to MSC certification in a social sense.

Community Development

It will protect the workforce who are very much embedded in the community

Delivering quality projects

Our project is very good value for money in that it makes us leaders in field of socially responsible employers of fishers and sends a very positive signal to the market place, not only is our produce of top quality, it s also produced to the highest standards in relation to worker driven social responsibility.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.