Ferry Fury: Government to Crack Down on Wage Cheating in UK Waters
Bosses from DFDS and Stena Lines face government talks this Monday. The aim? To force ferry companies to pay the UK minimum wage when sailing in British waters.
P&O Ferries Scandal Sparks Outrage
P&O Ferries caused a storm when it sacked 800 staff without notice and replaced them with agency workers earning just £5.50 an hour — way below the UK minimum wage of £8.91.
Prime Minister backs calls for P&O Ferries boss Peter Hebblethwaite to resign. Last week, Hebblethwaite admitted to MPs that his mass sackings broke the law.
Protests and Port Drama as Ship Detained
Unions staged fierce protests at Dover, Hull, and other ports on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) detained P&O’s European Causeway in Northern Ireland. The ship was declared “unfit to sail” due to poor crew training, missing documentation, and safety concerns.
P&O Ferries said it would make urgent changes to get the vessel back in service. But unions warn the new crews lack proper training, sparking safety fears.
Government Strikes Back with Tough Legislation
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is set to unveil plans forcing ferries operating in UK waters to pay the legal minimum wage.
The move targets companies like P&O, whose ships are registered overseas and currently dodge British wage laws while operating here.
A Department for Transport spokesperson stressed that ministers are working with other ferry operators to keep services running smoothly, ahead of potential travel chaos this holiday season.
