13 May 2021
RMT Press Office:
OFFSHORE UNION RMT today highlighted a case of seafarer pay abuse in the offshore renewable sector which demonstrates that National Minimum Wage law applying to seafarers working on the UK Continental Shelf is being flouted.
Crew on the Panamanian registered Glomar Wave are being paid a day rate of £47.35, working from Great Yarmouth to sites on the UK Continental Shelf. That is £3.94 per hour for a 12 hour day – under half the Government’s National Minimum Wage rate of £8.91 per hour for workers aged 23 years or over.
RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch, said:
“Paying seafarers below £4 per hour on these routes has been illegal since October last year. RMT repeatedly warned the Government that this would continue to happen without effective enforcement or clear guidance.
“As a result, seafarers working in UK waters remain fair game for dodgy employers looking to take advantage of the green rush in offshore renewables. In the case of Glomar Wave, we have asked the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to include crew pay in its survey of this flag of convenience vessel and we’re seeking an urgent meeting with the charterers.
“We will also be raising this and other cases with the Shipping Minister next week. RMT will continue to fight for decent seafarer jobs across the shipping industry.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
Glomar Wave is currently on charter to a company based in Bristol to transport remotely operated vessels to offshore renewable energy sites.
The sixteen crew are Ukrainian, Filipino, Polish and Bulgarian nationals. They are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement with UK maritime unions or with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).
The National Minimum Wage (Offshore Employment) (Amendment) Order 2020) came into force on 1 October 2020. This extends entitlement to the UK NMW to all seafarers, regardless of nationality or flag of vessel, working from a UK port to an offshore energy site on the UK Continental Shelf.
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