Wage protections for seafarers brought into force

The Seafarers’ Wages Regulations SI 2024/1015 set out the administrative detail of the requirement for operators of seagoing services which regularly use UK ports (i.e. at least 120 times a year) to provide a declaration that the seafarers onboard the vessel are being paid at least the national minimum wage while in UK waters. If that declaration is not provided in time a surcharge is imposed on the operator each time the service enters the port. The framework for these requirements was established by the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023. The Regulations come into force on 1 December 2024.

The Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 (Commencement) Regulations SI 2024/1008 bring all provisions of the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 so far as not already in force into force on 1 December 2024. Several sections of the Act which deal with the power to make...