- UK Government Introduces New Legislation to Protect Seafarers.
- Fire and Rehire Practices to Be Outlawed Under New Employment Rights Bill.
- Foreign Vessel Operators Face Penalties for Mass Dismissals Without Notification.
UK government launched the Employment Rights Bill in parliament on Tuesday aimed at improving seafarers’ protections from exploitative employment practices and raising wages for thousands of workers in the maritime sector. The bill, drafted in response to last year’s scandal that saw 786 seafarers sacked without union notice and replaced by agency staff was presented to Parliament on 10 October 2024, reports Seatrade Maritime.
Addressing Fire and Rehire Practices
The new employment rights bill makes fire and rehire practices illegal except where employers can show that no other commercially viable alternative is possible. This should prevent companies from using dismissal and rehire tactics to reduce wages and debase conditions at work.
Secondly, the dismissal of 20 or more employees on any foreign vessel will be brought to the attention of the UK government. Omission to do so might result in prosecution or unlimited fines. This might prevent significant dismissals from taking place without proper supervision.
Strengthening Seafarer Employment Standards
The bill also includes provisions that strengthen international seafarer employment conventions. The government is exploring options to introduce mandatory employment standards. It is also imposing minimum standards on working conditions aboard vessels operating in UK waters.
Seafarers’ Wages Act to Be Enforced
Starting alongside the Employment Rights Bill, the Seafarers’ Wages Act enacted in 2023 will be introduced on December 1, 2024. The new law expects operators that visit UK ports at least 120 times every year to pay their seafarers the equivalent of the UK National Minimum Wage. Operators failing to comply will be subject to financial penalties.
Industry Response
Maritime professionals union Nautilus International welcomed the draft bill; director of organising Martyn Gray said: “Ending the scourge of meaningless fire and rehire, a damaging practice that has caused widespread instability for maritime professionals, is a victory for seafarers’ rights and a strong message of fairness and respect for all workers.
“Ensuring that all seafarers regularly working in UK waters are paid at least the national minimum wage equivalent is a welcome development, addressing a long-standing issue of wage exploitation in the industry.”
Recognising the measures as an important milestone, Nautilus said the protections need further strengthening and that it would continue to advocate for seafarers as the bill progresses through parliament.
“We will work closely with lawmakers as the Bill moves forward to ensure it delivers the strongest possible protections for seafarers and maritime professionals,” said Gray.
Political Backing for Stronger Worker Protections
UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “What we saw with P&O Ferries was an outrageous example of manipulation by an employer and exactly why we’re taking bold action to improve job security in the UK.
“These long overdue changes will shield workers from the mistreatment of having their terms and conditions ripped up before their eyes, while benefiting good employers to compete on quality and innovation, rather than a race to the bottom.”
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, added: “The mass sacking by P&O Ferries was a national scandal which can never be allowed to happen again. These measures will make sure it doesn’t.”Make no mistake – this is good for workers and good for business. Cowboy operators like P&O Ferries will no longer be able to act with impunity – undercutting good employers in the process.”
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Source: Seatrade Maritime
