A Nautilus motion calling for improved maternity and pay provision for women seafarers has received unanimous backing from the 2025 Trades Union Congress (TUC) Women's Conference, held ahead of International Women's Day (8 March).
On 7 March, Nautilus Council member Dawn Franklyn presented a motion to the conference of UK trade unions which highlighted the unique challenges that women at sea face related to maternity rights due to the nature of maritime work.
The lack of maternity rights for women at sea has already been highlighted by members at the Nautilus Equality and Diversity Forum as a barrier that forces many women to choose between starting a family and continuing their careers, impacting retention in sea-going roles where women remain under-represented.
The motion called for the TUC to lobby for statutory maternity leave of at least 26 weeks with full pay for those working on UK-flagged vessels or working in UK waters, as well for the UK government to mandate that shipping companies guarantee job security for women returning from maternity leave.
Additionally, the motion also supported the implementation of flexible working arrangements, including temporary shore-based work options and job-sharing opportunities.
Nautilus International continues to advocate for gender equality in the maritime sector and is committed to ensuring that women seafarers receive the same rights and opportunities as their shore-based counterparts. The call for improved maternity rights comes as the industry struggles with gender imbalance, and Nautilus hopes this motion will drive significant policy change.
The TUC Women's Conference considered the motion as part of its broader efforts to improve workplace rights for women across all industries.
Find more guidance on seafarer rights in the Nautilus Maternity and Paternity Guide online (member only login).
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