Exploitation of seafarers

Conference remains deeply concerned at the impact on domestic seafarers from ferry operators trading in the Irish Sea who recruit crews from outside the minimum wage.

For example Conference notes that Polish seafarer ratings employed by freight operator Seatruck have been paid £3.66 per hour to work on routes in the Irish Sea.

Conference is dismayed that this pay discrimination against seafarers from other EU and non-EU countries is a consequence of political failure to enforce employment law, particularly National Minimum Wage legislation but also due to the exclusion of seafarers from the full protection of minimum wage and equality legislation.

 Conference also notes the effect that this exploitation has on major employers in the Irish Sea, particularly the largest employer of Irish seafarers Stena Line which is consistently undercut by the low cost crewing practices of other operators.

Conference agrees to support the campaign to enforce and, if necessary, amend legislation in support of domestic seafaring skills and again urges the Governments of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to formulate a joint approach to eliminate the exploitation of seafarers in the Irish Sea.

Conference is concerned that if such nationality-based exploitation of seafarers is allowed to continue unchecked then Northern Ireland will lose their seafarers by the beginning of the next decade with damaging consequences for the economic, social and strategic future of these islands.

Finally conference supports the views of the independent report “Maritime futures” into the future of seafaring “” by Cardiff University, commissioned by the RMT that,

• That protection is introduced for island cabotage reserving such trade to UK-flagged vessels.
• That nationality requirements are introduced for seafarers employed by UK vessels operating island cabotage.
• That trainee ratings positions are linked to the tonnage tax on a mandatory basis.
• That support is provided for accommodation and travel costs for ratings’ shore-based training..
• Stronger national wage legislation and a review of equality legislation