Seafarers will benefit from greater protections for welfare and
working conditions thanks to new legal requirements proposed by
the Government.
Part of the Government's landmark Employment Rights Bill - the
biggest upgrade to rights at work in a generation - the new
amendments have been tabled to pave the way for a legally binding
Seafarers' Charter.
The Charter will allow Ministers to set higher standards for
seafarers' rights and further protect wages beyond UK waters for
seafarers on services regularly calling at UK ports.
Thanks to the tabled amendments, strengthened protections for
seafarers include setting maximum periods of work at sea and
minimum periods of rest, robust requirements to manage seafarer
fatigue, and reinforced training requirements for operators, such
as familiarisation with the vessel, to support safety and
skills. The Department will launch a consultation to gather views
from industry and unions on how these new powers can best be
implemented.
This marks a major milestone for the sector by cementing seafarer
protections in law, addressing the concerns of safe roster
patterns and seafarer fatigue to ensure the health and safety of
workers.
Delivering on the Plan for Change's commitment to raise living
standards, these measures will prevent exploitation and
undercutting of working conditions, enshrine seafarer protections
in law as never before and set a firm course for the industry
moving forward.
Transport Secretary said:
“We promised to introduce a Mandatory Charter to improve working
conditions and welfare for seafarers, and today we have
delivered.
“Our hardworking seafarers keep the country safe and moving – and
that's why it's only right that we protect them.
“This Charter will signal a new dawn for welfare whilst at sea.”
Deputy Prime Minister, said:
“We pledged to boost security and pay for thousands of seafarers
– and we are delivering. These amendments will lift standards for
operators and make work pay for seafarers - that's good for
business and for workers.
“We will work with operators and unions to make sure these
changes are implemented fairly.
“This is a vital part of our plan to make work pay, which will
bring the biggest upgrade to rights at work in a generation,
delivering the commitment set out in our Plan for Change to raise
living standards, reform workplace conditions and boost security
for Britain's working people."
The maritime industry is vital to the UK economy, adding £18.7bn
of GVA in 2019. Reforming workplace conditions and investing in
seafarers will bolster the maritime industry and help turbocharge
economic growth across the UK.
The announcement comes just weeks after the Seafarer's Wages Act
came into force, meaning that anyone who frequently works in our
waters now receives the equivalent of the national minimum
wage.
Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries,
said:
“We stand right behind this move to strengthen protection for
hard-working seafarers. Anyone who has ever worked on a ship
understands the importance of good working conditions like
regular rest periods.
This will help boost crew well-being, creating a safer and more
rewarding working environment for all.”
Gemma Griffin MBE, Vice President & Head of Global Crewing at
DFDS, said:
"We are pleased to see the measures being taken by the UK
Government to further protect seafarers' rights and restore a
level playing field for all operators."
Paul Nowak, General Secretary of TUC, said:
“This charter is a really important step forward. For too long
seafarers have been exposed to hyper-exploitation and a lack of
enforceable rights. By improving their pay and conditions, we
can begin to give seafarers the same rights and protections
as land-based workers.
“Unions stand ready to work with the Government and today's
announcement is another reminder of why the Government's Make
Work Pay agenda is so important. Everyone deserves to be treated
fairly at work.”
Notes to Editors
- The Government has tabled amendments to the Employment Rights
Bill to amend the Seafarers' Wages Act to enable:
o remuneration regulations, so minimum wages can be
applied within and beyond UK territorial waters; and
o safe working regulations, to enable limiting of
tours of duty, require certain training, and require operators to
have and follow fatigue management plans
- The Seafarer's Wages Act came into force on 1 December 2024.