Sustainability

Viking Fishing provides opportunities for the artisans who work in the company’s electrical, diesel, carpentry and machining workshops to acquire formal qualifications in their field of expertise.

In many cases, these artisans are highly experienced − having acquired skills and abilities in the course of long careers − but they have never had the opportunity to attain formal qualifications.

Viking Fishing assists the artisans to complete their formal training over four years. The artisans attend training college for a three-month period, once a year for four years, and thereby prepare for their trade tests.  Over the past four years, seven of the artisans employed at Viking Fishing’s workshops have passed their trade tests in this way, gaining formal qualifications and recognition as fully qualified artisans.

Seasonal and casual employees

In 2010, Viking Fishing secured a grant of R2.5 million from the Department of Labour to up-skill its seasonal or part-time employees. The company was the only company in the Western Cape Province to secure this funding, demonstrating the high regard that the government has for the Viking Fishing Group’s training activities.

The R2.5 million grant was earmarked for the training of seasonal employees, with the objective of improving their skills, enhancing their productivity and ultimately making them more likely to find steady or permanent jobs. Employees received training in the following skills:

• Electrical engineering (10 trainees)
• Basic refrigeration (10 trainees)
• Rigging and flinging (10 trainees)
• Basic welding (10 trainees)
• Responsible Fisheries training (40 trainees)
• Refrigeration trade upskilling (15 trainees)
• Carpentry upskilling (2 trainees)
• Diesel fitting (2 trainees)
• Generic management (8 trainees)
• Watch keeping and first level officer (4 trainees)
• Maritime operations (20 trainees; 10 also completed oiler qualification)
• Fish processing (10 trainees)

All the trainees who participated in these training courses were also given an opportunity to gain practical training within the Viking Fishing Group.