NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE ENFORCEMENT FOR SEAFARERS

That this House welcomes the Low Pay Commission's (LPC) recommendation in its Spring 2016 report that the Government create a public protocol to strengthen the investigation of third party complaints of breaches of the National Minimum Wage (NMW); notes that the LPC recommends that third party whistleblowers should be entitled to feedback and continued involvement in any resulting casework from HMRC NMW Enforcement Team investigation of these complaints; further notes that implementing this recommendation would address more effectively NMW compliance in industries such as shipping, where fear of blacklisting, short term contracts and lack of awareness discourage seafarers, including those being paid as little as £2.25 per hour from making direct complaints to the UK authorities; notes the Government's introduction of the National Living Wage (NLW) of £7.20 per hour for workers aged 25 years and over from 1 April 2016; notes the estimate from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers that there are at least 8,300 seafarers working in the UK shipping industry today who are paid below the NMW· and calls on the Government to demonstrate its commitment to effective minimum wage enforcement by accepting the LPC's recommendation on third party whistleblowers and the NMW.