EXCLUSION OF SEAFARERS - EU LABOUR DIRECTIVES

That this House is aware that discussions are currently taking place at inter-Government level to allow the inclusion of seafarers to be within the scope of EU social directives, thereby ending the unjustifiable and discriminatory treatment of this group of workers; notes that so far there have been three individual Commission consultations on this matter since 2007; believes there is no rationale for sustaining the current exclusion regime and that instead all seafaring employees should as of right be placed on an equal footing with other land-based workers; and calls on the Government to support the extension of the acquis communautaire on labour and social laws so that such people enjoy the same protection as other categories of workers.