THE government is planning to give seafarers greater protections for welfare and working conditions thanks to new legal requirements.

Amendments to the Employment Rights Bill could pave the way for a legally binding Seafarers’ Charter, which will allow ministers to set higher standards for seafarers’ rights and protect wages beyond British waters.

The move includes setting maximum periods of work at sea and minimum periods of rest, robust requirements to manage seafarer fatigue, and reinforced training requirements for operators.