Grant Shapps threatens to hit P&O ferries with package of measures to ‘halt sackings’ and prevent use of low-paid crew
A "package of measures" will "block" P&O Ferries' plan to replace 800 seafarers with agency workers paid below the UK'S minimum wage, according to Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps.
The company caused out rage after sacking its crews with no notice on March 17.
In a letter to P&O chief executive, Peter Hebblethwaite, Mr Shapps wrote: "I will be bringing a comprehensive package of measures to Parliament to ensure that seafarers are protected against these types of actions in the way that Parliament and this government already intended.
"Through that package, I intend to block the outcome that P&O Ferries has pursued, including paying workers less than the minimum wage."
The measures could be unveiled tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the maritime and Coast guard agency(mca) said it is inspecting p&o ferries' ship Pride of kent at the port of dover to ensure it is safe to go to sea with its new crew, even without passengers or cargo.
A full inspection would be required at a later date before it could resume commercial operations.
The MCA said another of the firm' s vessels, european cause way, remains under detention inl arne, northern ireland after "failure son crew familiarisation,vessel documentation and crew training" were discovered.
The minimum wage in theuk for people aged 23 and above is £8.91 per hour.
Mr Hebblethwaite, whose basic annual salary is £325,000, told MPS on March 24 the average pay of the agency crew is £5.50 per hour.
He said this is" an international seafaring model that is consistentwith models throughout the globe and our competitors ".
Irish Ferries began operating on the Dover to Calais route in June 2021 in competition with P&O Ferries.
On March 23, Prime Minister Boris johnson told parliament: "We're going to make sure that everybody working in the UK exclusive economic zone gets paid the living wage."
Mr S ha pp st old Mr H ebb le th wait eh eh as" one further opportunity" to reinstate sacked workers on their previous wages.
He went on: "Our measures will prevent the law being broken. I would also suggest that the deadline imposed on seafarers to respond to your redundancy offer by March 31 is dropped.”