Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 159
P&O Ferries’ treatment of workers in March 2022 has not only affected the 800 seafarers...
Recommendation
P&O Ferries’ treatment of workers in March 2022 has not only affected the 800 seafarers directly involved but damaged the perception of the maritime sector for potential new recruits. It is imperative that the Government ensures that seafarers and potential future seafarers know they are valued and are not deemed expendable. This is essential for both maintaining the current talent pool and enabling it to expand in the future. To this end, we call on the Government to publish a report on its nine- point plan for seafarers’ protections as soon as is practical.
Government Response Summary
The government notes the recommendation. The Seafarers’ Wages Act received Royal Assent on 23 March 2023, and is now law. DBT has launched its consultation on a Code of Practice on ‘fire and rehire’.
Paragraph Reference:
159
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government notes the recommendation. The Seafarers’ Wages Act received Royal Assent on 23 March 2023, and is now law, less than a year since a Bill was introduced by the then Transport Secretary. The new law protects those working on vessels operating a regular international service to and from the UK from being paid less than the National Minimum Wage. This legislation is designed to boost the pay of thousands of seafarers who work tirelessly to maintain supply chains and transport passengers safely across our waters. The department will now turn its attention to making the Act operational through secondary legislation- we will continue to engage extensively with the unions, ports and the shipping industry as part of this process. Government has in parallel progressed the rest of its 9-point plan for seafarers’ protection. We have made particular progress in our co-operation with the French Government, including on the French proposed legislation to ensure seafarers working on cross- Channel services will also benefit from pay protections while in French territorial waters. We are finalising our negotiations with the Spanish Government on practices concerning conditions for seafarers on board third country (non-UK or non-Spanish) flagged ships operating regular shipping routes between ports in Spain and the UK. Furthermore, DBT has launched its consultation on a Code of Practice on ‘fire and rehire’. In recognition of the need to maintain a strong talent pool, the department provided a £2.4m grant for Welfare, Maritime Skills and Careers in June 2022 to support seafarer welfare, maritime skills, careers and diversity. This included £2.1m to the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, the recognised National Seafarer Welfare Board in the UK, who administered the grant. The department has provided regular, publicly available, updates on the 9-point plan. A report into the outcome of the plan would need a period of time to pass to allow for a full assessment and we would expect it to be incorporated into the annual report that will be published by the new Maritime Council.