Exploitation of Seafarers

Conference remains deeply concerned at the impact on domestic seafarers from ferry operators trading who recruit foreign crews to pay them below legal minimum wage rates on both sides of the Irish Sea. For example, Conference notes that Polish seafarer ratings employed by freight operator Seatruck are paid £3.78 per hour on the Cypriot- agged Clipper Pennant between Heysham and Warrenpoint. Conference is dismayed by the continued practice of nationality based pay discrimination against seafarers from EU and non-EU countries and recognises that this is a direct consequence of political failure to enforce employment law, particularly National Minimum Wage legislation and equality legislation on behalf of all seafarers, whatever their nationality. 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 competitors' low cost crewing practices. Conference agrees to support the campaign to enforce and, if necessary, amend legislation in support of domestic seafaring skills and 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 by creating a level commercial playing eld based on minimum domestic employment and equality standards which cannot be avoided through registering vessels under ags of convenience. Conference is concerned that if such nationality- based exploitation of seafarers persists then we will lose our seafarers by the beginning of the next decade with damaging consequences for the economic, social and strategic future of these islands. Finally, Conference fully supports the campaign, particularly its following aims. Equal rights in employment, equality and immigration law for domestic seafarers (transport between domestic ports) protections for domestic crew.