By Hamish Clark
Another Indonesian fishing crew working in New Zealand waters are claiming they have been ripped off for more than $1 million in unpaid wages.
The men also allege they have been subjected to sexual and physical abuse onboard a Korean-owned ship.
The 27 Indonesian fishermen sought the sanctuary of the Lyttelton Union Parish Church. Lawyer Craig Tuck listened to their concerns about working conditions onboard the vessel Melilla 203, charged by New Zealand fishing company United Fisheries.
“They are entitled first off to be treated as human beings and citizens and not be abused and treated as slave labour, they are entitled to be paid the minimum rate,” says Mr Tuck.
United Fisheries is a joint business venture, with the Korean ship owners and officers responsible for paying the crew according to New Zealand law.
“It is so simple, we just want our money paid by the company according to the minimum wage, that is all,” Maskuri, an Indonesian deck hand, told 3 News.
The crew claim they only receive US$240 a month – well under New Zealand minimum wage.
“This isn’t an isolated case,” says crew representative Daren Coulston. “There has been the Oyang 75 and the Shinge and those guys have gone home with nothing.”
United Fisheries chief executive Andrew Kotzikas met with the men behind the church’s stained glass windows, agreeing to try and sort out the money problems.
“If there is some missing money, then we will fix it – we guarantee that position,” he said.
The fishermen also raised allegations of sexual abuse onboard the vessel.
“They are of the most serious nature,” says Mr Tuck.
The fishermen returned to the ship in the hope that the concerns raised will be answered and that they will be paid the minimum wage.
This is the latest in a string of controversies surrounding the use of foreign charter vessels and is the subject of a ministerial inquiry.
The Melilla 203 will return to New Zealand’s fishery grounds at the end of the month.
3 News