Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 31
31
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 166
Welfare standards are inextricably linked to contractual terms and conditions, however.
Recommendation
Welfare standards are inextricably linked to contractual terms and conditions, however. It is not sufficient for the Government to rely on the glacial progress made in amending the Maritime Labour Convention. The MLC is a set of minimum international standards designed for the deep sea sector—not, for example, for short sea ferries. The Government must take the lead by showing its ambition to significantly exceed these minimum standards.
Government Response Summary
The Government notes the recommendation, stating that the Seafarers’ Charter will initially launch on a voluntary basis and they will continue to explore options to further enhance seafarer welfare, undertaking research and working with international organizations.
Paragraph Reference:
166
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government notes the recommendation. The Seafarers’ Charter will initially launch on a voluntary basis. The Government saw the need to act swiftly to protect seafarers on international routes with close ties to the UK from wage exploitation while in UK territorial waters. We continue to explore options to further enhance seafarer welfare and keep the need for further legislation under review. We will monitor the uptake of the charter and actively keep under review the need for further legislation. Legislating for employment protections in an industry that is global in nature and governed by international law is complex. Further research is required before legislating for other areas of seafarer employment protections. Government is progressing this research, in particular relating to roster patterns. We are working with the UN specialised agencies, like minded states and our social partners for the continued improvement of the international standards and encourage greater ratifications of core Conventions such as the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention 2006. Alongside this, we are undertaking a number of additional initiatives to strengthen seafarer welfare. These include among others: • Commissioning user research into the current state of internet connectivity available to seafarers on UK vessels and in UK ports and waters. This will help us in delivering on internationally agreed goal that by 2025 seafarers at sea or in port should have access to the internet at a reasonable cost or free of charge. • undertaking research into seafarer fatigue and its relationship with roster patterns and impacts on seafarer welfare. The research is looking at the UK domestic and international ferry sectors. We are also collaborating with France who are undertaking similar research with the World Maritime University.