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A maritime union has welcomed moves to increase pay for people working on UK ferries and ships after support from Dover MP Gwyn Prosser and Labour peer, Lord Rosser.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers has been fighting for seafarers to be paid the UK minimum wage while in UK waters.

Legislation is going through parliament that would bring wages in line with land-bound workers.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: 'When the government introduced the minimum wage we were promised that it would apply to seafarers.

'The minimum wage is supposed to apply to non-UK workers, but it applies only to ships operating in UK internal waters, rather than UK territorial waters, and excludes altogether UK ships operating outside UK waters.

'Holidaymakers using ferries would be shocked to find out that vessels operating out of UK ports are paying seafarers at rock-bottom, poverty rates.'

In the House of Lords, Labour peer Lord Rosser is scheduled to move an amendment to the employment bill that would ensure that the national minimum wage is paid to all seafarers employed in UK waters or on UK-flagged vessels.

And in the House of Commons, Dover MP Gwyn Prosser is urging the government to pay seafarers fair wages.

Mr Crow added: 'Lord Rosser and Gwyn Prosser are to be congratulated for their efforts to bring to an end a shameful state of affairs.'