“I’m grateful that we were finally rescued, but the scars of that time are still with me,” is a harrowing sentiment from one of the Ghanaian fishermen who was recently awarded $25,000 compensation, following rescue from modern day slavery aboard a trawler owned by Scottish fishing firm TN Trawlers in 2020.
Aboard the Olivia Jean, the men endured dire conditions – confined quarters, verbal racial abuse, limited food and drinking water, and severe restrictions. Their contracts allowed them into the UK as seamen, yet they were denied the right to disembark, creating an environment ripe for exploitation. Despite TN Trawlers denying all allegations of mistreatment, a BBC documentary titled Slavery at Sea highlighted their plight, leading to two criminal investigations into the company.
The fishermen’s case against the UK Home Office underscores how little has changed for African workers in various industries. This tragic story unfolds against a backdrop of Scotland’s historical role in the European slave trade, where Scottish merchants once profited from African exploitation. Centuries later, African seafarers still struggle for basic protections and face barriers in Western waters, echoing the same lack of rights our ancestors experienced.
Your thoughts in the comments are welcome.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqj0ln81yyjo
Inside the human trafficking scandal rocking Scotland’s fishing industry
https://unu.edu/cpr/blog-post/addressing-continuing-threat-modern-slavery-africa
1 Comment
Wow! It appears that within the collective consciousness of Europeans is a desire to exploit Africans for labor and natural resources. It won’t end as long as this mindset exists.