I appreciate the many difficulties facing seafarers at present and pay tribute to their huge contribution to this country’s economy as a vital part of our transport workforce.

Last year’s P&O redundancies left the lives of seafarers upended and their livelihoods scrapped, with many struggling to put food on the table and pay their bills. Never again should any company think that it can treat British workers with such contempt.

Whilst I welcome any measures to improve the working rights of seafarers in light of these redundancies, I am concerned that the Seafarers’ Wages Bill, as currently drafted, does not do enough to give workers security at work.

This narrow piece of legislation would deal only with wages, leaving out a whole host of commitments from the Government’s ‘nine-point plan’ to improve the working rights and conditions of seafarers.

Furthermore, Ministers say that the Bill will mean ferry workers have the equivalent of minimum wage for the time they spend in British waters, however, given that much of Europe has no minimum wage, I am concerned that this could see workers’ earnings average out lower.

I am therefore pleased that the Opposition has committed to closing the employment loopholes that allow seafarers to be paid below National Minimum Wage, as well as introducing a new deal for working people to build a new partnership with employers and trade unions. I believe that this would create jobs and build a society where everyone is entitled to fair pay, job security and dignity at work.

The Second Reading of the Seafarers’ Wages Bill was postponed from 21 November 2022. When the Bill does return to the House of Commons, please rest assured that, unless the Government makes improvements to it, my Opposition Colleagues and I will be supporting amendments to ensure that seafarers are entitled to a fair wage and workplace protections.