All seafarers working in UK waters must be paid at least the minimum wage, according to new government guidance.
The move follows concerns that some ships registered abroad were underpaying their workers in UK waters, thus undercutting UK crews.
Business Minister Andrew Griffiths, said: ‘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.’
To encourage compliance, UK Border Force patrols will be handing out information to seafarers and employers in more than 50 languages promoting minimum wage law.
Border Force’s Modern Slavery Maritime lead Rob Meyer, added: ‘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.’
The announcement is part of new guidance which sets out the working rights of seafarers in internal waters.
The 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.