Ports and unions questioned on viability of legislation announced in queen’s speech ensure P&O and other ferries operators pay seafarers the minimum wage.
Transportation secretary, Grant Shapps, said that new bill introduced in response to P&O Ferries layoffs of 800 crews showed that government will stop at nothing ensure fair pay.
However, the British Ports Association (BPA) said it was “unclear” whether work and stated that they could not enforce it, while the TUC rejected plans as non-working.
The Department for Transport said dozens of thousands of seafarers will have to pay the equivalent of United Kingdom national minimal salary, currently £9.50 per hour, subject to regulations in the planned Harbors Bill (Sailors’ Compensation).
Legislation to ban ferries that neglect to pay rules from docking at UK ports. Negotiations are ongoing with European Union countries including France, Germany and Ireland, ensure routes between countries become “minimum wage corridors” guaranteeing minimum wages for seafarers operating them.
Shapps said, “We will stop at nothing to make sure sailors in British ports are paid fairly. Shameful actions of P&O Ferries are not consistent with the principles of our world-leading maritime sector and changing legislation on sailor’s salary protection This clear signal all that we will not tolerate economic abuse of workers.
“We will protect all seafarers who sail regularly in and out of UK ports and ensure they are not worth out of Job. transport operators who regularly call in UK ports face consequences if they do not pay their workers fairly.”
government said he would look into it carefully with ports and maritime sector on scale of in new laws and enforcement measures over in next four weeks. Vessels other than ferries may be included. Cruise operators they are known to pay far less than the minimum wage for seafarers. operating on ships out of Southampton.
Possible coercive measures include surcharges, suspension of port access and fines.
BPA said it concerned on government expectations that ports should police delivery. BPA CEO Richard Ballantyne said: “ creation of new rules for ports to regulate ships in such way is unprecedented. Setting a minimum wage is not area where ports have a core competency. This should be a job for Maritime and Coast Guard Agency or HM Revenue and Customs.
“This is remains it is unclear whether the government’s bill will achieve its goals of improving old problems for sailors. Our initial assessment is that this may not be the case. compatible with the UK’s commitment to international contracts or current the principles that guide our independent port sector.”
BKT hit out in government for abandon the promised employment bill, which would give more rights and protection to all workers, including at sea.
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BKT general secretary Frances O’Grady, said: “This proposal is weak and probably not feasible.
” government did nothing to combat the most egregious labor abuses in years of P&O. Only stronger labor laws that increase worker protections and stop companies firing on The video will prevent another P&O scandal.”
Majority of 786 sailors laid off by P&O Ferries in March earned far more than the minimum wage, which means that the ferry operator will save millions in salary even after completion with new the laws. P&O Ferries chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite, speaking to MPs, said payrolls would also be abbreviated as new contracts will no longer cover seafarers’ rest periods between voyages, but will only “pay people when they work”.
