Nautilus welcomes moves to strengthen seafarers' employment rights

Nautilus International has welcomed new measures by the UK government to strengthen seafarer protections under its draft Employment Rights Bill.

The Employment Rights Bill is expected to introduce new protections specifically devised for seafarers, toughening the laws around collective dismissal, and cementing seafarer wage protections in UK law.

The Bill, being introduced to Parliament this week, will seek to outlaw fire and rehire by requiring employers to prove there is no reasonable financial alternative to letting staff go.

It will also close a loophole exploited in 2022 by P&O Ferries to toughen the collective redundancy notification requirements for operators of foreign vessels. Vessel operators planning to dismiss 20 or more employees will first be legally required to notify the UK Government.

Nautilus International director of organising Martyn Gray said:

'We commend this government’s swift action in delivering these important first steps towards employment reforms within its first 100 days in office. 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.'

While Nautilus International acknowledges that these measures are an essential milestone in advancing the rights of seafarers, the union believes that further strengthening of these protections is needed. As the government's proposed Employment Rights Bill progresses through Parliament, Nautilus will continue to advocate for additional safeguards to ensure that all seafarers are afforded the same level of protection and dignity, regardless of their nationality or the flags of the vessels they work on.

'This is just the beginning,' Mr Gray added. 'We will work closely with lawmakers as the Bill moves forward to ensure it delivers the strongest possible protections for seafarers and maritime professionals. We remain committed to ensuring that the maritime industry is fair, equitable, and safe for all who work in it.'

Nautilus International looks forward to engaging with the government and other stakeholders to secure a robust legislative framework that protects seafarers from unfair treatment, guarantees fair wages, and holds employers accountable for their actions.