Rules ensuring seafarers are paid an equivalent to the UK’s national minimum wage were confirmed in the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday (10 May) in what the government branded “a major step forward on pay protection”.
The reforms – formally known as the Harbours (Seafarers’ Remuneration) Bill - will require ferry companies who regularly call at UK ports to pay their workers the equivalent wages and could ban operators who refuse to.
The plan closes a legal loophole between UK and International Maritime Law used by P&O Ferries in its decision to sack almost 800 employees without notice and replace with them with cheaper agency workers.
Changes will be voted on during the next parliamentary session and the Department for Transport pledged to “consult closely” with the ports and maritime sector on the laws.
The consultation on the proposed measures opened on Tuesday (10 May) and will last four weeks. It will examine what sort of vessels could be included beyond ferries and what the enforcement measures will be put in place.
Options under consideration to sanction companies who refuse the wage equivalent include surcharges, suspension of port access and fines.
The government claimed it was also continuing “positive bilateral discussions” with France, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Ireland and Denmark to ensure routes between the countries acted as “minimum wage corridors” for seafarers.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the government would “stop at nothing” to make sure seafarers in UK ports are paid fairly.
“We will protect all seafarers regularly sailing in and out of UK ports and ensure they are not priced out of a job,” he said. “Ferry operators which regularly call at UK ports will face consequences if they do not pay their workers fairly.”
