More seafarers will be guaranteed fair wages, proper rest periods and suitable training from a new Seafarers’ Charter launched by the UK government last week.
Building on government action already taken, the charter – backed by DFDS Ferries, Condor Ferries, Brittany Ferries and Stena – is part of the government’s wider Nine-point plan to protect seafarers and boost employment protections, ensuring they’re paid and treated fairly – irrespective of flag or nationality.
This is at the heart of the UK’s response to P&O Ferries’ decision to fire nearly 800 of its staff without consultation or notice last year.
The UK government’s charter will be launched alongside a similar initiative by the French government during a visit by Maritime Minister Baroness Vere to Paris today to meet her counterpart, Minister Berville.
See: UK announces historic boost to seafarers’ rights and welfare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
It appears that the government has backtracked on plans to require workers to register with its new digital ID programme to prove their right to work in the UK.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that all key auto-enrolment pension thresholds will remain unchanged for 2026/27.