RMT calls on Government to seize opportunity to outlaw the practice of wage discrimination for seafarers
Following the publication today of the findings of the review into the practice of allowing shipping companies to pay lower wages to seafarers recruited from overseas, shipping union RMT today called on the Government to seize the opportunity to outlaw the practice of wage discrimination which has led to widespread “social dumping” across the industry.
The conclusion of the Government-instigated review into the impact on seafarers of the Equality Act 2010, which has been conducted by an external consultant and is published today, is:
“On the basis of the evidence submitted, I recommend outlawing the practice of nationality-based pay differentials for seafarers altogether (option A).”
RMT National Secretary for Shipping, Steve Todd, said;
“We welcome the publication of the independent report commissioned by the previous Government to examine the evidence submitted on seafarers pay
“We are pleased that, quite rightly, it says that the benefits of equality in the long term outweigh additional costs to the ship owners and that there is no reason why the shipping industry should be made a special case. This is in line with long held RMT views that the shipping industry should not expect to have exemptions from basic equality provisions.
“We now urge the new Government to do the right thing and implement the equality regulations on the basis of the conclusion of this review. Although the Government are asking for any further comments in the next two weeks we hope that this won’t lead to any further delays and RMT will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Government and we trust that the regulations will be implemented at the very earliest opportunity afterwards .”
ENDS
Source: http://www.RMT.org.uk
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