Steam Packet's employment efforts supported

John Shimmin was answering a question from Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer regarding the ferry company’s employment policy.

Mr Shimmin stressed it was not his department’s responsibility to comment on the recruitment practices of private sector companies and subsequently thanked the Steam Packet for its co-operation in providing the details for the answer.

The minister said the company employs people in the Isle of Man, the UK and at sea and there was no obligation for it to employ Manx workers at sea.

However, on-Island, only four of its 100 staff hold work permits while at sea 42 of its 105 staff are Manx.

Additionally, for the summer season the company employs an extra six staff, all of whom are Isle of Man workers.

He concluded by saying the Steam Packet requires its staff to be STCW compliant, and that this may limit the number of Manx workers who can be considered to be suitable at any given time.