The UK government released a new guidance in which it provides example scenarios to help seafarers check whether they are receiving the correct wage and employment rights.
The new guidance 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. UK also said that all seafarers working in UK waters must be paid at least minimum wage rates.
Employers failing to pay at least National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage will 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.”
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.
You can see the full guidance about UK’s seafarers minimum wages in the PDF herebelow
