Changes to Statutory Leave Entitlement – Shipping Industry

Dear Colleagues,

Changes to Statutory Leave Entitlement – Shipping Industry

The Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (DBERR) have recently set out details of how the new entitlements to annual leave are being implemented.

The new legislation arises out a commitment to ensure that employers do not deduct bank holidays from the statutory annual leave entitlement of four weeks. From 1^st October 2007 statutory annual leave entitlement will increase to 4.8 weeks and to 5.6 weeks from 1 April 2009. Further details are available on request from the Research Department.

The UK shipping industry is not included within the regulations as the intention of the DBERR is instead to incorporate the new rights within the increased annual leave provisions that will come about as a result of the implementation of the rights under the ILO Maritime Labour Convention. No date has yet been set for implementation.

You will be aware that seafarers are covered by a specific Maritime Directive. However for the majority of shipping grades members the new statutory entitlement to annual leave has been deemed to be included within existing rest periods. This is not a position RMT accept and we continue to pursue this matter through legal avenues.

Yours Sincerely

Bob Crow
General Secretary