Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Accommodation of Crews (Fishermen) Convention, 1966 (No. 126) - Serbia (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the attached comments of the Union of Employers of Serbia and the Nezavisnost Trade Union Confederation. It notes the Government’s statement made under Convention No. 113 that following political developments in recent years, the Republic of Serbia has become a landlocked State and that no seagoing vessels are currently registered in the Marine Ship Registry. It also notes the Government’s indication that no concrete data are available as to whether any nationals are engaged as fishers on board foreign-flagged fishing vessels. The Committee understands that at present all fishing activities are limited to inland waters and involve freshwater fishing. In this connection, the Committee recalls that, as set out in Article 1, paragraph 1, the Convention applies to persons engaged in “maritime fishing in salt waters” and therefore the Convention is without object under the present circumstances. In light of the above, the Committee requests the Government to re-examine the advisability of remaining bound by the Convention. For all useful purposes, the Committee recalls that the Convention may be denounced every ten years and is current open to denunciation for one year since 6 November 2008. It accordingly requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any decisions taken in this regard.