Seafarers that fall within the scope of the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 are not entitled to be paid at the value of the National Minimum / Living Wage, but are entitled to a statutory equivalent.
Seafarers do not qualify for the UK National Minimum / Living Wage (NMW / NLW). However, the UK Government’s 2022 ‘Nine-point plan for seafarers’ resulted in the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 which defines that seafarers are being paid at least an equivalent rate (the NMWe). These are set in legislation annually.
The Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2026 set the rates that mirror the NMW / NLW and apply for pay reference periods starting on and after 01 April 2026:
|
NMWe Rate
|
From April 2025
|
From April 2026
|
|
|
£
|
£
|
|
21 and over
|
12.21
|
12.71
|
|
18 – 20
|
10.00
|
10.85
|
|
Under 18 (and above school leaving age)
|
7.55
|
8.00
|
|
Apprentice
|
7.55
|
8.00
|
For Bookkeepers
ICB advises reviewing the guidance from the Department of Transport which defines the workers in scope of the 2023 Act and, therefore, those that must be paid at the NMWe rates. These are enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and require ‘National minimum wage equivalence declarations’.
