The Government in London wants to create "minimum wage corridors" for ferry seafarers connecting the UK with other nations

In addition to requiring these maritime carriers to apply the minimum wage, the government has communicated its intention to negotiate with nations that are linked to the UK by these services maritime the establishment of "minimum wage corridors" to ensure that seafarers sailing on these routes are guaranteed at least the minimum wage.

In addition, the government has asked the Insolvency Service, an agency government that among the tasks has to collect information on the conduct of company managers and to declare their forfeiture in the event of misconduct towards a company, do so against Hebblethwaite.

Presenting yesterday to the government the measures decided by the government in the House of municipalities, Shapps explained that the package named measures will force the shipping companies that want behave like P&O Ferries to think deeply about their decisions: "this - said the minister - will send a clear message to the maritime industry that it does not we will allow this to happen again. Which, where they are needed new laws, we will create them. Where they are cynically exploited legal loopholes, we will close them. And where labour rights they are too lacking, we will strengthen them".

Shapps specified that the first measure is that the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the British Revenue Agency, devote more resources to ensure that all companies that operate ferries in the UK comply with the rules on the minimum wage. The second provides that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) increases its surveillance activity of the rules, as it happened - he specified the minister - with the latest inspections of P&O ferries Ferries that have so far led to the detention of the two European ships Causeway and Pride of Kent.

The third measure is aimed at preventing employers from work, which have not made reasonable efforts to achieve a agreement through consultation with trade unions, may appeal the practice of dismissing and rehiring workers under conditions different work from the previous ones. In particular - clarified Shapps - a new code "will allow a court ordinary, or to an employment court, to take into account the methods of dismissal and, if an employer does not comply with the code, impose a 25% increase in compensation to the worker'.

Referring then to the request to the Insolvency Service, the Minister, specifying that any decision to declare the forfeiture of the CEO of P&O Ferries is due obviously to this service, he explained that "with this step I want to make sure that such outrageous behavior comes questioned'.

Focusing then on the possibility of imposing a salary minimum on international routes, certainly innovative initiative the British Government at national but also international level, "as we know - said Shapps - P&O Ferries has exploited a loophole by placing their ships under the flag of Cyprus to escape the laws of the United Kingdom. So - ha announced - we will also act on this - So we decided that from next week our reforms will come into force on the tonnage tax, making it easier to create maritime enterprises in the United Kingdom, with the elimination of excessive bureaucracy as well as provisions that are no longer relevant given that we are outside the EU. Therefore, increasing the attractiveness of the flag of the United Kingdom and bringing you more we will protect more seafarers."

If this is certainly not the innovative part of this measure of the government of London, it is instead the next illustrated by the Minister: 'a large part of the maritime sector - recalled Shapps - it is governed by laws, obligations and international treaties. This means that we cannot hope to solve all these problems yourself. So the The seventh initiative of our package today is to involve our international partners. Now, this week I contacted my counterparts in France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany to discuss how seafarers used on routes that directly connect our countries they should receive a minimum wage. I am pleased to say - he made I note the minister - that the response has already been very positive, in particular with respect to the Minister of Transport French. Now I will work quickly with my counterparts at the aim to explore the creation of minimum wage corridors between the our nations, and we will also ask the unions and operators to agree on a common level of protection for seafarers also for these routes"."

As for the possible changes to the British rules on the Minimum wage, Shapps specified that, after consulting experts in maritime law, "it became clear that this that would not have been possible. The problem - he clarified - is this: maritime law is governed by conventions international that too easily would bypass any change. So, Madam Vice President -- Shapps continued addressing the Vice-President of the Chamber - I will not allow may this stop us. Seafarers deserve the same certainty wages of workers on the ground, sure that at any moment they will not be replaced by cheap foreign labour. Therefore today we are providing this certainty. What our eighth measure - explained Shapps - I can announce to the classroom our intention to give British ports new statutory powers so that may refuse access to regular ferry services that do not they pay their crew the national minimum wage. Get this objective using the provisions of primary law to amend the Harbours Act 1964 and this means that, if companies like P&O Ferries want to dock in ports like Dover, Hull or Liverpool, will have no choice but to conform to this legislation. Essentially, it means that P&O Ferries cannot benefit from the initiative it has shamefully undertaken: they fired their workers to replace them with others paid below the minimum wage. As a result of this measure, this cynical attempt will fail. Therefore my message to P&O Ferries is this: the game is over. Summarize those who want to return to work and pay a living wage to your workers, to all your workers."

The minister stated that this change in the rules "does not it will be possible overnight. But precisely for this - added - I can announce the ninth and last measure that we will adopt. Today I will write to all uk ports explaining our intention to amend the legislation in the most as soon as possible, however ordering them, in the meantime, to don't wait. I want to see, as soon as possible - he hoped Shapps - British ports refuse access to ferries that do not pay a fair wage. They will have full support of the government and I have instructed the MCA to support this action as well and they have confirmed that they will."

The package of measures of the "Fair Ferries Strategy" announces by the government was welcomed by the trade unions in the maritime sector, which nevertheless demonstrated perplexity about whether these actions can be sufficient to prevent other shipping companies from behave like P&O Ferries. Nautilus International, remembering whereas the union has been urging these measures for years, noted that "Intervention on the national minimum wage alone will not stop P&O Ferries will not discourage companies like this from firing their workers. "On any other day - observed the secretary general of Nautilus, Mark Dickinson - this would appear as a victory in our long campaign for fair pay in the ferry sector in the Kingdom United, both nationally and internationally. However if first we had high hopes for legislative measures to combat the illegal actions of P&O Ferries, today somehow there is no We. P&O Ferries - explained Dickinson - is already arguing that the extension of the Kingdom's national minimum wage Joined to international ferry routes will not make them change direction and that their strategy made of recruitment of Low-cost crews will not change. The company - has denounced the secretary general of Nautilus International - achieved its goal and our associates, and the safety of passengers and goods, they will be the victims."

"We welcome - continued Dickinson - all the measures of the package announced today and the proposal for corridors a national minimum wage with neighboring countries is encouraging. We urge the Minister to prioritise the achievement of this proposal and to ensure that the salary national minimum is applied in the ferry sector with the support of destination nations. We also welcome an action against the company's CEO, Peter Hebblethwaite being clear that he is not a suitable person and competent, but we also hoped for action against other members of the P&O Ferries board of directors and details on how the government plans to ensure that the practice of dismissal with rehiring both outlawed, on how the government can hit a company and impose unlimited fines when they violate the United Kingdom labour law'.

If Nautilus International has approved if not all, at least some of the measures announced by the government and appreciated the Intentions, RMT rejected the government's response in its entirety: "despite all the bravado - said the secretary General of the union Mick Lynch referring to the statements of the Minister on the behavior of P&O Ferries - Grand Shapps is not managed to seize the opportunity to respond in a way appropriate to the bandit behavior of P&O. The Prime Minister - explained the secretary general of RMT - he repeatedly stated to parliament that the government would take action legal to save the work of British seafarers, but has not kept his word. This continuous lack of action and courage has made a ferry company of property of the Royal Family of Dubai (P&O Ferries is owned by the Emirati DP World, ed) is been able to violate our laws, to upset our bring and ruin people's lives with impunity and we will continue to put pressure on the government to ensure justice for our Associated with. What was announced today - he concluded Lynch - it is too little and comes too late, and we ask urgent action to implement faster and more radical reforms aimed at saving British seafarers from oblivion."