Grant Shapps has unveiled plans which he says will block P&O Ferries’ attempt to secure a new seafarer workforce on the cheap amid widespread outrage over the mass sackings of 800 crew.
The transport secretary told MPs he was to give UK ports the power to refuse access to regular ferry services
that do not pay workers the minimum wage.
“I want to see British ports refusing access to ferry companies who don’t pay a fair wage, as soon as practical,” he said in his statement to the Commons.
Mr Shapps said it formed part of nine measures being proposed by the government to force P&O to “fundamentally rethink their decision” because of their “failure to see reason”.
“This will send a clear message to the maritime industry: we will not allow this to happen again. Where new laws are needed we will create them. Where legal loopholes are cynically exploited we will close them. And where employment rights are too weak we will strengthen them.”
He said the planned enforcement action included checks by HM Revenue & Customs to identify ferry operators operating in UK waters who were not compliant with UK national minimum wage rules.
He also revealed that he had instructed the Insolvency Service to examine the actions of P&O Ferries’ chief executive, saying that he believed Peter Hebblethwaite was “unfit to lead a British company”.
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The secretary of state said: “He set out to break the law and boasted about it to this Parliament.
“So I’ve written to the CEO of the Insolvency Service, conveying my firm belief that Peter Hebblethwaite is unfit to lead a British company and I have asked them to consider his disqualification.”
Mr Hebblethwaite has steadfastly refused to row back on the decision, almost two weeks ago, to fire the 800 seafarers and replace them with crew on as little as £5.50 an hour.
Hundreds of those ordered off their ships have since accepted the redundancy package, which included top-up compensation for the company’s failure to consult on its plans, arguing P&O Ferries would have folded without immediate action.
