Maritime workers secure major win as Employment Rights Bill becomes law

Nautilus International has hailed the passage of the UK Employment Rights Bill as a landmark victory for seafarers, following years of campaigning in the aftermath of the P&O Ferries scandal.

The legislation, which has now cleared Parliament and therefore become an Act, includes several hard-won protections for maritime workers that the union has fought tirelessly to secure – most significantly, the introduction of a mandatory Seafarers' Charter.

The Union's sustained lobbying efforts have paid off, with the Act recognising that seafarers have too often been overlooked by domestic employment law, despite their vital role in maintaining the nation's trade and supply chains.

Nautilus has consistently pushed ministers to acknowledge the distinctive nature of maritime work whilst establishing meaningful safeguards for those working at sea.

Nautilus director of organising Martyn Gray said the Act's passage marked a watershed moment for the profession.

'This is a significant moment for seafarers. The Employment Rights Act has finally been passed with clear and tangible improvements for our members. The inclusion of a mandatory Seafarers' Charter is particularly important and represents a direct response to the issues we have raised repeatedly with government.

'Whilst there is still more to do to achieve full fairness for seafarers, this legislation sends a clear signal that poor employment practices in the maritime sector will no longer be tolerated. Nautilus will continue to work to ensure the new measures are implemented robustly and deliver real change.'