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Written question asked by Rebecca Long Bailey (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 November 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 December 2018 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Monday, 3 December 2018. A substantive answer was provided by Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative) on Tuesday, 4 December 2018 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Merchant Shipping: Minimum Wage

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to improve the enforcement of the national minimum wage for seafarers working on merchant ships operating between UK ports and offshore energy installations on the UK continental shelf.

Answer

Workers who ordinarily work in the UK are entitled to minimum wage for all of their work, including, for example, for work on ships located outside the UK servicing offshore installations. Furthermore, workers on UK registered ships are entitled to minimum wage for all their work on the ship wherever it is located, unless they work entirely outside the UK or are not ordinarily resident in the UK.

This Government takes minimum wage enforcement seriously and is committed to ensuring all employers pay their workers correctly. We continue to invest heavily in minimum wage enforcement, increasing the budget to over £25 million for 2018/19, up from £13 million in 2015/16. In addition to following up on every worker complaint received, HMRC undertake proactive investigations and conduct awareness raising activities amongst both employers and workers.

Last year, HMRC identified record arrears of £15.6 million, for over 200,000 workers.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
196843
Session
2017-19
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Continental shelf Minimum wage Merchant shipping Offshore industry
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk