The British government is to introduce legislation to extend the UK’s national minimum wage to seafarers working between UK ports and offshore energy installations. The national minimum wage is currently GBP8.21 per hour for over-25s, with lower rates for under-25s
Welcoming the move Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT union, which has been campaigning for fair wages for seafarers, explains that: “By the end of the year, seafarers working on ships between UK ports or servicing offshore oil and gas or wind installations, regardless of the flag of the vessel, will be protected by the national minimum wage. This will extend the basic protections from pay exploitation that have been applied and enforced for land-based workers for 20 years.” He added that the union will continue to campaign to eradicate pay discrimination based on nationality and all forms of seafarer exploitation.
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