Dutch vessel provider Glomar Offshore and UK subsea specialist Rovco have launched investigations into allegations that crew working in the UK offshore wind industry are being paid less than the minimum wage, a potential breach of regulations governing seafarer pay.
Both companies confirmed to reNEWS they are probing the circumstances aboard the Glomar Wave vessel, which is owned by the Den Helder-based outfit and is currently under charter to Rovco.
Glomar Offshore chief operating officer Jan-Wouter Thijssen said an official from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) boarded the vessel earlier this week. Maritime union RMT, which is affiliated with the ITF, claims crew on the Panamanian registered ship are being paid a day rate of £47.35.
The union said this equates to £3.94 per hour for a 12 hour day, under half the government’s National Minimum Wage rate of £8.91 per hour for workers aged 23 years or over.
Thijssen said the company and its legal counsel are investigating the matter “to see if and where things went wrong” with a crewing agency, which supplied the workers.
“If there is any discrepancy we will resolve it immediately. This is horrible and we hope to correct it as soon as possible,” he said.
Thijssen said the company has a track-record of working in the UK sector and such claims are a shock to the firm. He said the vessel is supporting ROV operations at the 714MW East Anglia 1 project. “This is the last thing you want as a shipping company.”
Rovco said: “We take this allegation against one of our sub-contractors extremely seriously and are launching our own investigation. Should we find that Glomar Offshore are breaking the UK’s National Minimum Wage Law we will ensure the situation is rectified.”
UK legislation came into force on 1 October that extended the minimum wage to seafarers from national ports who work anywhere on the nation’s continental shelf.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said it has repeatedly warned the government instances of low pay would continue to happen without “effective enforcement or clear guidance”.
“We will also be raising this and other cases with the Shipping Minister next week. RMT will continue to fight for decent seafarer jobs across the shipping industry,” he said.
EA1 owner ScottishPower Renewables told reNEWS that contractors working for it ensure their employees and agency workers “are paid in compliance with all applicable employment laws and minimum wage requirements”.