Minimum wage now covers seafarers

Transport Union the RMT has welcomed the entry into law of the National Minimum Wage (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020, which extends the minimum wage to seafarers working on merchant (not cruise) ships working to the territorial limit of UK waters, as well as to offshore energy installations on the UK continental shelf, provided that the route was UK ports only.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT welcome this new law. Thousands of ratings’ jobs around the UK coastline will now be covered by an improved, legally enforceable basic rate.

“UK seafarers are now in a better position to compete for these jobs and RMT will be demanding full recognition for all ratings on all merchant ships working on these routes.”

There was a similar welcome from Wales TUC, whose general secretary Shavanah Taj said: “Enforcement must be effective so we will work with the Welsh government to make sure that HMRC and other regulatory bodies have unfettered access to inspect merchant ships across Wales’ port network to clamp down on employers paying seafarers below domestic minimum wage rates – a common indicator of modern slavery.”

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-welcome-minimum-wage-law-for-seafarers

https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/wales-tuc-welcomes-new-law-minimum-wage-seafarers