Indian seafarers hired to replace crews at P&O Ferries in Dover are being paid £1.81 an hour, a union claims.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) said the $2.38 hourly rate was “a shocking exploitation” and “another heartbreaking betrayal of those who were laid off.”
P&O said it would not comment on agency workers’ pay, while a close source said the figure was “completely inaccurate”.
The ferries are expected to depart again on Monday, the source said.
Services were suspended on Thursday after P&O announced in a video call that 800 employees would be laid off, effective immediately.
The company announced on Twitter on Monday that the rides will remain suspended “for the next few days”. However, the departures have been resumed in the meantime Liverpool and Dublin.
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The minimum wage in the UK for people aged 23 and over is £8.91 an hour. But companies using UK ports often register ships in other countries, which allows them to pay lower wages. For example, some ships operated by P&O Ferries are flagged in Cyprus. A spokesman for P&O said safety is a top priority and the new crewing management model will be used by many competitors.
“They have recruited high caliber experienced seafarers who are now familiarizing themselves with the ships and going through all the mandatory training requirements set by our regulators,” the spokesman said.
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