Occupational Diseases in Fishing: Flai Cgil Open Seminar in Porto Torres

Flai Cgil is organizing a seminar in Porto Torres entirely dedicated to fishermen and fishery workers from the Turritane, Stintino, Castelsardo, and Alghero fishing communities. The seminar will take place on Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Filippo Canu facility. While working at sea is one of the toughest, most demanding, and riskiest professions, "often, occupational diseases caused by many years of toil on a fishing vessel are not disclosed to those who can lend a hand to the worker in the sector, and social security and contractual rights remain a labyrinth that is difficult to decipher unless clearly represented to the workers themselves," emphasizes Giuseppe Di Carlo, General Secretary of Flai Cgil North Sardinia. "That's why we wanted to create a concrete meeting place, conceived first and foremost as a support service for the local fishing community. This event was conceived and strongly desired to provide concrete answers and real protections for our fishermen," adds Roberto Cassaro, Flai Cgil North Sardinia delegate for the Fishing and Aquaculture sectors. The event will focus on health, the recognition of illnesses caused by strenuous work, and how bilateral health and pension funds can protect workers and their families in times of difficulty. The goal is to offer workers a concrete opportunity to directly address their concerns, ask questions about their personal situation, and identify, together with Flai CGIL and Patronato Inca, the necessary protection and follow-up options. The event was therefore created to give workers in the fishing industry a space and a voice, so they can be heard regarding the real needs and difficulties they face on a daily basis. To offer immediate assistance, Donatella Piana, provincial director of Patronato Inca, will be present and, along with the union, will be available throughout the event. Fishermen will be able to submit their questions, request clarification on regulations and the sector's collective bargaining agreement, learn more about their social security status, and report issues related to health and the recognition of occupational illnesses. Where necessary, further in-depth discussions and individual consultations can also be arranged. Following the speakers' remarks, the floor will be given entirely to the workers, with a debate open to testimonies, questions, and requests for clarification. The proceedings will conclude at 1:30 pm. Massimo Mulas, representing the mayor of Porto Torres, and Simona Fois, president of the Provincial Industrial Consortium of Sassari, will deliver official welcome remarks. This will be followed by remarks in support of fishery workers by Antonio Pucillo, Head of the National Flai-CGIL Fisheries Department; Donatello Barone, representative of the Sector Health and Pension Funds; Donatella Piana, Provincial Director of Inca Sassari; Valentina Marci, Regional Secretary of Flai-CGIL Sardinia; and Giuseppe Di Carlo, General Secretary of Flai North Sardinia. The event will be coordinated by Roberto Cassaro, Union Delegate for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors.