ShippingTelegraph: UK Gov to extend seafarer protections beyond territorial waters

Published by ShippingTelegraph

Thousands of seafarers are set to be better protected under new proposals announced by the UK government on June 5 which seek to cement proper rest periods, fairer pay, and stronger rights and protections in law.

Following the introduction of the national minimum wage equivalent for seafarers in domestic waters, the new laws would guarantee, as the government claims, minimum rest periods and fair pay for every seafarer working on frequent crossings between the UK and France and the Channel Islands, extending protections beyond UK territorial waters for the first time.

Measures being consulted on include seafarers being paid the equivalent of at least the National Minimum Wage throughout journeys between the UK and France and Channel Islands and the setting of maximum periods of work at sea and minimum periods of rest.

The announcement comes after the UK government published on its website which operators have met the requirements of the Seafarers’ Charter.

The government said it will review the Seafarers’ Charter in the next two years and continue to engage with both industry and trade unions to ensure standards remain up to date and adapt with the times.

The maritime industry is vital to the UK economy, adding £18.7bn of gross value added in 2019.

Keir Mather, minister for aviation, maritime and decarbonisation, said: “Seafarers are the unsung heroes of our economy – keeping the country safe, supplied and moving, often far from home. They deserve nothing less than the strongest possible protections, and we are determined to deliver exactly that.

“We are moving faster and going further than ever before to cement seafarers’ rights in law – introducing protections beyond UK territorial waters for the first time and setting a new gold standard for the industry.”

The initiative forms part of a wider policy push following the Employment Rights Act 2025, which introduced new protections to toughen the laws around collective dismissal and end unscrupulous fire and rehire practices except where employers genuinely have no alternative.