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RMT urges SNP to end seafarer poverty pay
MARITIME union RMT called on the Scottish government yesterday to end the extreme poverty wages of seafarers employed by an “exploitative” ferry operator.
RMT revealed that the Lithuania-registered Finlandia Seaways service which operates between the Scottish town of Rosyth and Belgium, employs Lithuanian seafarers on the vessel on rates of pay as low as £1.64 per hour, well below the current national minimum wage for over 25s of £7.20 per hour.
The Scottish government has given grants of at least £356,000 to support the route while the European Union has invested around £5.5 million.
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