Ministers announce moves to protect seafarers from rogue employers

Ministers said tough new legislation being introduced to Parliament this week is aimed at preventing another P&O Ferries scandal when hundreds of workers were fired and replaced with agency workers.

New protections are specifically devised for seafarers, strengthening laws around collective dismissal and cementing seafarer wage protections in UK law, said ministers.

Ministers said they will close a loophole exploited by P&O so that operators planning to dismiss 20 or more employees will be legally required to notify the Government, and face potential prosecution or an unlimited fine.

What we saw with P&O Ferries was an outrageous example of manipulation by an employer and exactly why weâre taking bold action to improve job security in the UK

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: We’re on a mission to end exploitative work and we are legally enshrining our promises so no employer can abuse the system to rob their workers of the basic rights and dignity they deserve.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “The mass sacking by P&O Ferries was a national scandal which can never be allowed to happen again. These measures will make sure it doesn’t.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: P&O Ferries brutal and illegal sacking of 800 seafarers is one of the biggest scandals in modern-day industrial relations.

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