A protest has been held in Aberdeen over claims some workers on Northern Isles cargo ships are being paid about half the minimum wage.
Shipping union RMT claims its latest figures show workers on the Northern Isles Seatruck vessels are being paid £3.66 an hour, compared to the UK statutory minimum wage of £7.20 an hour for over-25s, but Seatruck said no workers were paid less than £4.60 per hour.
Seatruck runs freight vessels Helliar and Hildasay under contract by Serco Northlink.
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The union wants transport minister Humza Yousaf to end the "modern-day slavery".
RMT members protested at Aberdeen Harbour under the banner "Aberdeen - Port of Shame" and then demonstrated outside the city offices of SNP politicians.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "It is a scandal that ships of shame are sailing out of Aberdeen, with workers on poverty rates that make a mockery of our legal minimum wage, under a contract that is under the control of the SNP administration.
"This outrage, which is a stain on the reputation of the great city of Aberdeen, has to be ended and ended now.
"RMT is demanding urgent talks with the minister and an assurance that he will step in immediately to end this modern-day slavery in Scottish waters."
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Seatruck said in a statement: "Under current legislation, the UK national minimum wage (NMW) is not applicable to crews of the Helliar and Hildasay as they are not deemed to be 'ordinarily working in the UK'.
"They start and finish their tours of duty in their home countries, they are working on non-UK-flagged vessels, they are not resident in the UK and they do not pay tax or national insurance in the UK.
"The seafarers are Estonian or Polish nationals earning multiple times the NMW for their countries of residence.
"Both the UK Government and the UK Chamber of Shipping have confirmed that the NMW does not apply in this instance."
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A spokesman added: "More than than half the workers on board get the equivalent of the NMW or more. No workers on board are paid less than £4.60 an hour."
The firm rejected an offer from Serco/Northlink to make the pay up to the minimum wage, which would be reimbursed by Transport Scotland, as Seatruck's "fleet-wide pay structure which would be distorted by acceptance".
Seatruck offered to sell the two vessels to allow the new operator to introduce new rates of pay but the Scottish Government is against this.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is deeply disappointed that Seatruck has once again rejected Serco's offer to pay their staff the minimum wage and backdate this.
"Scottish ministers are working with stakeholders on the next Northern Isles ferry service contract.
"Work is being done to ensure that any future subcontractors pay the minimum wage, regardless of where the company or crew are based. The minister has also written to the UK Government to ask them to take action on this.
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"Scottish ministers do not believe that purchasing a freight vessel for the next Northern Isles ferry service contract is a viable option and that tenderers should be required to source appropriate vessels themselves and reflect these in their bid."
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