In a major victory for thousands of seafarers who regularly traverse UK waters, the UK government has passed the Seafarers’ Wages Act, significantly enhancing pay protections and working conditions for those employed in the maritime sector.
The new law comes in the aftermath of P&O Ferries’ controversial dismissal of 800 UK-based ferry crew members last year, replacing them with foreign labor.
The law received Royal Assent on March 23, 2023, and is now in effect.
The legislation aims to safeguard seafarers working on vessels operating on international trades by ensuring they receive no less than the National Minimum Wage. This move is part of the UK government’s ongoing efforts to eliminate unfair practices and legal loopholes that have allowed companies to exploit workers with low wages.
The Seafarers’ Wages Act is a key component of the government’s 9-point plan for seafarers, which seeks to revamp and enhance working conditions in response to P&O Ferries’ abrupt firing of nearly 800 staff members in 2022—an incident has been widely condemned by politicians and unions. P&O Ferries is owned by Dubai-based DP World.
Under the new law, vessel operators must provide evidence that they are paying their seafarers wages equivalent to the National Minimum Wage—which next month will increase to 10.42 per hour, depending on age. Authorities now have the power to charge non-compliant operators and deny harbor access to those who persistently fail to meet these...
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