Government sets out minimum wage rights for seafarers in UK water; RMT Union critical of UK Government seafarer minimum wage report

Government sets out minimum wage rights for seafarers in UK water
18 January 2018 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-minimum-wage-righ...

All seafarers working in UK waters must be paid at least minimum wage rates, the government warns in new guidance.

All seafarers working in UK waters must be paid at least minimum wage rates, the government warned in new guidance published today (18 January 2018).

It comes after concerns about unfair competition, following reports that some ships registered abroad were underpaying their workers in UK waters, undercutting UK crews.

UK Border Force patrols will be handing out information to seafarers and employers in more than 50 languages promoting minimum wage law.

Employers failing to pay at least National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage can face fines of up to 200% of the underpayment, public naming and, for the worst offences, criminal prosecution.

Business Minister Andrew Griffiths said:

Seafarers’ work is vital to key UK industries such as fishing, oil and gas. We are determined to ensure they are paid fairly for the work they do, often in challenging conditions.

Today we are making it crystal clear that if you work in UK waters you are entitled to at least the minimum wage and all employers – no matter where they’re from – must pay it.

Border Force’s Modern Slavery Maritime lead Rob Meyer said:

Border Force takes its role of tackling exploitation and protecting vulnerable people very seriously. We have run a number of maritime operations targeting unscrupulous employers in the sector, and are working with government enforcement agencies to take action taken against the minority of employers who do not treat their workers in line with UK law.

Minimum wage law applies to seafarers:

when they are working on ships within UK waters and ports regardless of where the ship is registered, or where the worker ordinarily works or lives
on a foreign ship for work performed outside the UK if they ordinarily work in the UK
on UK registered ships if some of their work is in the UK and they live in the UK

If anyone is concerned that they are not receiving at least the minimum wage, they can check their pay online, or contact Acas in confidence, on 0300 123 1100.

RMT Union critical of UK Government seafarer minimum wage report
David McPhee - 18/01/2018 https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/161376/rmt-union-critical-uk-gover...

The offshore workers union, RMT, have hit back at UK Government report on seafarer minimum wage claiming that it will not tackle pay issues within the offshore oil and gas sector.

RMT warn that the guidance, released yesterday, will have no impact in the “chronic low pay” to foreign seafarers.

The union also believe that the new guidelines would not apply to routes between UK ports and the offshore oil and gas sector

RMT accuse the government of ignoring those aspects which are “driving the decline of UK seafarer numbers and the national maritime skills base”.

Yesterday’s report said that offshore workers operating within UK waters need be paid at least the minimum wage for their work.

The government warning and guidance has been provoked by rising concerns about unfair working conditions and pay on ships registered outside the UK but operating within its waters.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “This will not help UK seafarers compete for jobs on vessels working between UK ports and from UK ports to offshore energy installations where seafarers from other EU countries can be paid as low as £3.78 per hour and non-EU seafarers even lower, at £2.41 per hour on UK flagged ships. Our members who have lost their jobs on offshore supply and standby vessels as a result of the fall in oil prices in 2014 will be particularly outraged by this.

“RMT will be seeking immediate answers from the Government as to why they have jumped the gun on this issue and shut seafarers out of effective protections of their employment and equality rights.”

Steve Todd, RMT national secretary added: ““It is unacceptable that changes to the machinery of Government seem to have resulted in an attack on UK seafarers and the continuation of the exploitation of foreign seafarers working from and between UK ports. We will be seeking an immediate response from the Government, as this is totally unacceptable.”