Seafarers and shipowners fail to agree over minimum wage

Talks to increase the minimum wage at the International Labour Organization (ILO) have broken down as seafarers call proposed 3% increase a “slap in the face”.

A three-year deal was put forward by ship-owners to provide a level of security to seafarers across the world “at a time when many workers on land are having pay freezes and losing their jobs”.

Natalie Shaw, director of employment affairs at the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), said: “Unfortunately the seafarers’ representatives rejected a generous offer from the shipowners in these unprecedented times.