Ex-Fleetwood student Sophie launches sex discrimination petition

Sophia Walker, an ex-student at Fleetwood Nautical Campus, lost a discrimination tribunal case in January after claiming she was refused an interview for a job on an overseas cargo ship because she was a woman.

Three judges said the behaviour of Hong Kong-based firm Wallem Shipmanagement had been “reprehensible” but said they were “powerless to right the injustice done” to Ms Walker because of a legal loophole.

The loophole is possible because, despite recruiting in the UK, foreign firms hiring for foreign vessels outside British waters are not covered by anti-discrimination laws such as the Equality Act 2010.

Ms Walker launched her petition last week and is hoping it can attract 10,000 names to enable to get it looked at in Parliament.

Fleetwood MP Cat Smith, supporting Ms Walker, has called on the Government to review the current law and was told The Department for Transport would be reviewing regulations on the treatment of seafarers and would look at this issue as part of the review.

But Ms Walker, 28, says she wants to pro-actively put the issue on the agenda by starting the petition, which will now run until November 5.

The petition can be found at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/308183

She said: “I’m still fighting this but in a different way.

“I have set up the petition to challenge the current law and hoping I can get as much support as possible.

A loophole in our law allowed Wallem to subject me to direct sex discrimination without any consequences to them.

“The aim of the petition is to get this loophole closed.”

Ms Walker’s case dates back to 2016 when, having recently graduated from the nautical college, she was invited back alongside 10 male graduates for job interviews.

But the tribunal was told a representative of the Hong Kong-based Wallem, who has since been sacked, sent an email to a tutor saying Ms Walker would not be offered a job because of her gender.

The email said “girls have a place and a chance to succeed” before saying: “I would support the cruise industry is the most appropriate.”

Ms Walker sued, with the tribunal accepting an argument from Wallem’s lawyer that, despite admitting the email was an act of discrimination, the tribunal had no power to hear the case since the firm was based outside the UK, as was the ship.

During the tribunal, the original Weekly News story in 2016, highlighting her plight, was mentioned.

Ms Walker says she was offered £15,000 by Wallem as settlement, but she says she refused so that she could continue to campaign on the issue.

Wallem Shipmanagement said: “The behavior of the individual involved was not appropriate, and Wallem greatly regrets the actions of the employee.

“The behavior did not and does not reflect the company values.

“Wallem has employed female seafarers since 2006, and today has more than 50 female seafarers.

“Wallem is well known for its diversity programs, and the incident on served to strengthen those principles. In 2018, a Wallem employee won an award for their diversity programs support.”

Ms Walker’s petition states:

“Currently job applicants who apply for work as seafarer on a non-UK registered ship, sailing in international waters, can be discriminated against in the employment selection process, even if the process takes place within the England & Wales jurisdiction.

“Therefore unlike all other job applicants under England & Wales jurisdiction, a job applicant who applies for work as a seafarer on a non-UK registered ship, sailing in international waters is not protected against discrimination in the employment selection process by the Equality Act 2010.”