Ensuring Social Standards On British Ships

EDM number 1415 in 2002-03, proposed by Alistair Carmichael on 13/06/2003.

That this House regrets that the Government has dropped proposals to amend Section 9 of the Race Relations Act; further notes that this would have made it illegal for shipowners to discriminate on the pay of seafarers from different countries serving on United Kingdom-flagged ships; further notes that the maritime union UNUMAST has said this move could result in the red ensign being turned into a flag of convenience and that, the Government is failing to ensure decent working and living conditions on United Kingdom ships; further notes that pay as low as 77p per hour has been uncovered on United Kingdom registered ships; and calls on the Government to work with NUMAST to introduce effective mechanisms to protect the growing number of foreign seafarers serving on British ships.

This motion has been signed by a total of 39 MPs.