The Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective April 1st, 2025, amend the 2024 Regulations.
Key changes include updating the deadline for equivalence declarations from harbor authorities to the first day of the relevant year and increasing the national minimum wage equivalent rates for seafarers across various categories.
These amendments aim to improve seafarer pay and simplify administrative processes.
An existing impact assessment from the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and 2024 Regulations was used; no significant additional impacts are anticipated.
Arguments For
Improved Seafarer Compensation: The regulation increases the national minimum wage equivalent for seafarers, aligning it with evolving economic conditions and potentially improving their living standards.
Streamlined Administrative Processes: The amendment to regulation 5(2)(b) simplifies the declaration process for harbor authorities, reducing administrative burden and improving efficiency.
Compliance with National Minimum Wage: The updated rates ensure seafarers' wages remain consistent with the national minimum wage, promoting fair labor practices and preventing exploitation.
Legal Basis: These amendments are made under the powers conferred by sections 3(2) and 4(6) of the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023, providing a solid legal foundation for the changes.
Arguments Against
Potential Increased Costs for Employers: Raising the national minimum wage equivalent may lead to increased operational costs for shipping companies, potentially affecting their competitiveness.
Unintended Consequences: While intended to improve seafarer welfare, the wage increases might unintentionally lead to job losses or reduced hiring in the sector.
Limited Scope of Amendment: The amendments are specific and focused, potentially overlooking broader issues related to seafarer welfare or requiring further regulatory action in the future.
Lack of Comprehensive Impact Assessment: The absence of a new, specific impact assessment raises concerns about the potential unanticipated effects on businesses and the wider economy.
- Citation, commencement and extent (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2025. (2) These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2025. (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This section provides the official title and legal details of the regulations.
It states the regulations' name, effective date (April 1st, 2025), and geographic coverage, encompassing the entire UK.
- Amendments to the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024 (1) The Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024 are amended as follows. (2) In regulation 5(2)(b) (declarations), for “1st of January before” substitute “first day of”. (3) In paragraph (1) of regulation 14 (the national minimum wage equivalent)— (a) in sub-paragraph (a), for “£11.44” substitute “£12.21”; (b) in sub-paragraph (b), for “£8.60” substitute “£10.00”; (c) in sub-paragraph (c), for “£6.40” substitute “£7.55”; (d) in sub-paragraph (d), for “£6.40” substitute “£7.55”.
This section details the specific amendments made to the 2024 Seafarers’ Wages Regulations.
It first states that amendments are being made.
Subsection (2) alters the deadline for harbor authority declaration requests to the first day of the relevant year.
Subsection (3) increases the national minimum wage equivalents specified in regulation 14(1).
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Mike Kane Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Transport 5th March 2025
This section contains the signature block, indicating the official authorization and the date of signing of this instrument by a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State from the Department for Transport.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations amend regulations 5(2)(b) and 14(1) of the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024 (the “2024 Regulations”). These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2025. Regulation 2(2) amends regulation 5(2)(b) of the 2024 Regulations. Regulation 5(1) of the 2024 Regulations provides that a harbour authority which is required to request an equivalence declaration, as defined in section 3(2) of the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 (c. 8), must do so within the period of 28 days beginning with the later of two dates specified in paragraph (2). Those dates are (a) the day on which the harbour authority has reasonable grounds to believe that ships providing a relevant service will enter, or have entered, its harbour on at least 120 occasions during a relevant year, or (b) the 1st of January before the relevant year to which the request relates. Regulation 2(2) changes (b) so that the relevant date is the first day of the relevant year to which the request relates. The first day of the relevant year is set out in regulation 3 of the 2024 Regulations. Regulation 2(3) amends regulation 14 of the 2024 Regulations to increase the hourly rates specified for the purposes of the national minimum wage equivalent. A full impact assessment has not been produced in respect of these Regulations. A full impact assessment of the effect that the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and associated regulations would have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector was undertaken prior to the passing of the Act. That impact assessment was updated prior to the making of the 2024 Regulations and is available from the Department for Transport, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR and is published alongside those Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk. The impact assessment took account of an annual increase to the national minimum wage equivalent rates. No significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen as a result of these regulations. The Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside these Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk.
The explanatory note provides context and clarifies details of amendments.
It explains the changes made to the declaration deadlines, simplifying the process for harbor authorities.
The note further explains the increase to the national minimum wage equivalent rates for seafarers.
It also points out that while no new impact assessment was created for these regulations, existing assessments regarding the 2023 Act and 2024 Regulations are available, and no significant new impact is foreseen.