Protecting seafarers under EU labour law

Although EU labour law generally applies to workers in all sectors, for now several directives allow Member States to exclude seafarers from certain worker-protection provisions. This situation gave rise to unequal treatment of seafarers in different countries and affects competition in shipping. The European Commission proposed an amending directive in 2013 to improve the level of protection of the rights protected under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in EU labour law, increase the quality of maritime jobs and, at EU level, ensure a level playing field in the sector.