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<p>The Government is examining the application of the legislation to seafarers, in
particular those seafarers working on ferry services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Officials
have been working closely with the Department for Transport, unions and stakeholders
to fully understand pay practices in the maritime industry.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>Seafarers who ordinarily work in the UK are entitled to the National Minimum
Wages (NMW). Seafarers who believe they are entitled to the NMW and have not received
it should contact the free and confidential Pay and Work Rights helpline on 0800 917
2368.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft)
Regulations 2011 extend certain equality rights, including pay, to all seafarers serving
on UK or EEA registered vessels operating wholly or partly in Great Britain and its
territorial waters. Seafarers from the EEA or designated States, whose legal relationship
in regard to their employment is located within Great Britain, are also covered to
the same extent. Outside our territorial waters the same level of protection is afforded
to the same category of seafarers on UK registered vessels.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>The Department for Transport is currently reviewing the application of the
Equality Act Regulations with the social partners, this Department and other Departments.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, the UK must give due consideration to the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea that states that a vessel is entitled to the right
of innocent passage when in the territorial waters of another State. The majority
of ferries operating out of Great Britain are not flagged with the UK register and
the Channel Islands and Cherbourg are beyond our territorial waters.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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