Mandatory Seafarers Charter Added to the Employment Rights Bill

The strengthened protections set out by the government include maximum periods of work at sea and minimum periods of rest, robust requirements to manage seafarer fatigue, and reinforced training requirements for operators, such as familiarisation with the vessel.

How the Seafarers Charter builds on existing law

The announcement follows the coming into force of the Seafarers' Wages Act 2023, under which a harbour authority that expects ships providing a service to enter its harbour on at least 120 occasions in a year must ask the operator for a national minimum wage equivalence declaration. Operators that fail to provide a declaration can face surcharges. The government said that, as a result, anyone who frequently works in UK waters now receives the equivalent of the national minimum wage.

The Seafarers Charter goes further by addressing working patterns and welfare, which the government linked to concerns about safe roster patterns and seafarer fatigue.

Who is affected

The measures are aimed at operators of services that regularly call at UK ports, notably international ferry routes. The government said the amendments are intended to prevent exploitation and undercutting of working conditions and to create a level playing field for operators.

What happens next

The Department for Transport will launch a consultation with industry and unions on how the new powers should be implemented. Ferry operators and crewing agencies should review roster patterns, rest hours, fatigue management systems and onboard training against the likely standards, and track the amendments as the Employment Rights Bill continues through Parliament.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Seafarer rights to be enshrined in law
• legislation.gov.uk: Seafarers' Wages Act 2023 (as enacted)