Seafarer rights to be enshrined in law

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.

As a result of 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 Heidi Alexander said: “We promised to introduce a Mandatory Charter to improve working conditions and welfare for seafarers, and 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, Angela Rayner 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 [the] announcement is another reminder of why the Government’s Make Work Pay agenda is so important. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly at work.”