City Research Online

Abstract

Maritime businesses operate largely beyond the territorial reach of national labour protections, exposing tensions between transnational commercial models and national frameworks. This article analyses two national legislative responses. The UK’s 2022 P&O scandal prompted legislation in 2023 and 2025. The Philippines, as a major crewing nation, enacted Republic Act No. 12021 (2024) to strengthen protections for its citizen seafarers. Both are ultimately bounded by territory. We examine the potential of a response in international law to explore state responsibilities, maritime sustainability, and decent pay and conditions for seafarers as interconnected obligations. In so doing, we evaluate a range of theories: territorial and extra-territorial responsibility, shared responsibilities of business and state, tensions between protecting the wage of a high wage state and public interest in fair wages for all seafarers. We conclude that a higher degree of port state control of a living wage and decent work has significant regulatory potential.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2026, the authors. This is the accepted manuscript of an article published by Law Text. Please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions for information on re-use.
Publisher Keywords:	Seafarers' Wages, Race to the Bottom, Port State Control, UN Business and Human Rights Draft Treaty, Decent Work
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General) J Political Science > JX International law
Departments:	The City Law School The City Law School > Professional Programmes
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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