Union claims P&O Ferries pays new agency staff less than £2 an hour
Last updated 21st Mar 2022
Indian seafarers hired to replace sacked P&O Ferries crews are being paid just 2.38 US dollars (£1.81) an hour, a union has claimed.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), which represented many of the 800 staff fired without notice last week, said their replacements are being paid well below the minimum wage in the UK.
General secretary Mick Lynch said: "The news that the seafarers now on ships in British ports are to be paid 2.38 dollars an hour is a shocking exploitation of those seafarers and another gut-wrenching betrayal of those who have been sacked.
"The rule of law and acceptable norms of decent employment and behaviour have completely broken down beneath the white cliffs of Dover and in other ports, yet five days into this national crisis the Government has done nothing to stop it.
"These ships of shame must not be allowed to sail. The Government has to step in now and take control before it's too late."
The minimum wage in the UK for people aged 23 and above is £8.91 per hour.
P&O Ferries refused to comment on the pay of agency workers.
When the firm informed staff on Thursday they were losing their jobs, it told them it was aiming to halve crewing costs.
No sailings have operated since that date.
Read more:
P & O Ferries: demonstrations planned over seafarers' sacking
P & O Ferries: 800 staff to go with immediate effect
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