§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the conditions of work of foreign nationals on un-registered ships. [81054]
§ Mr. JamiesonMerchant shipping legislation governing conditions of work on UK registered ships, such as hours of work, applies equally to all seafarers regardless of their nationality.
The working hours of all seafarers (whatever their nationality) on board UK registered ships are limited by Directive 1999/63/EC, which the UK implemented in September 2002.
Rates of pay are matters for negotiation between employers and employees, subject to the national minimum wage. Foreign nationals on UK registered ships are not covered by the national minimum wage except when in UK waters.
Employers of seafarers recruited abroad to work on UK registered ships are exempt from the employment provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 when employing seafarers abroad.