Standing up for seafarers

The Albanese Government is continuing its work to ensure Australian workers earn more, and keep more of what they earn, with $2.7 million committed to better protect seafarers from wage theft.

This measure provides the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts with funding to pilot a two-year compliance monitoring program, in order to support a viable shipping industry in Australia.

The program will increase monitoring of wages paid to seafarers on foreign-flagged vessels engaged in coastal trading, and help the FWO in investigating potential instances of non-compliance by employers.

Wage theft leaves workers out of pocket and forces law-abiding businesses to compete with businesses that have an unfair advantage.

The program will provide a level-playing field for Australian-crewed vessels by preventing the undercutting of wages by foreign-flagged vessels.

This measure supports the Government’s priority of ensuring all employers comply with the Fair Work Act, and its commitment to protecting workers from wage theft.

It also forms part of the Government’s response to the Maritime Strategic Fleet Taskforce Report, which guides the establishment of an Australian Maritime Strategic Fleet.

This will strengthen Australian shipping, build resilience and support national security by enabling the movement of critical cargo during times of emergency or need.

This measure will subject these vessels to compliance monitoring by the FWO to help ensure seafarers on these vessels receive their lawful entitlements under Australian law.

The two-year pilot period will run from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

Allegations of wages non-compliance in the maritime industry can be reported to the FWO at maritime@fwo.gov.au or anonymously through www.fairwork.gov.au/tipoff.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King:

“Shipping is an essential backbone to our economy and our social wellbeing, with 99 per cent of the volume of our goods trade moved by sea.

“This makes it incredibly important to support a viable shipping industry and a thriving workforce free of wage theft.

“That’s exactly what we are doing, with this pilot program being yet another part of our ongoing response to the Maritime Strategic Fleet Taskforce Report, to support this vital industry, its workers and the economies it serves.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt:

“Our Government is standing up for workers and has delivered a range of workplace relations changes, including criminalising wage theft.

“We’re now bolstering the Fair Work Ombudsman with additional resources to monitor for wage compliance in the maritime sector.

“Concerns in the sector have been raised and the Government is committed to ensuring no worker is underpaid.”