What else could the measures outlined in the Queen’s speech mean for sailors after the dismissal of P&O without notice?
The government says most of the laid-off P&O workers have either accepted the terms of the layoffs or have been re-hired on less favorable contracts with the agency.
It says the bill aims to stop other companies from repeating what P&O has done by closing legislative loopholes used by some ferry companies that operate regularly in and out of UK ports.
The Ministry of Transport also says that discussions with France, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Ireland and Denmark on the creation of “minimum wage corridors” are ongoing. This was first announced by Transport Minister Grant Shaps in March.
The British Executive Director of the British Ports Association (BPA), Richard Ballantyne, told the BBC that he believed the port ban could be lifted, with ports being asked to request details from ferry companies – probably once a year.
If they did not pay the national minimum wage equivalent, they would be reported to the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency, which could then report to the Secretary of State, who could ask the ports to ban entry.
The BPA is of the opinion that this would be feasible, but they are still not happy that the ports are the ones that are asked to regulate the salaries of police companies.
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