ENSURING SOCIAL STANDARDS ON BRITISH SHIPS

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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.