The National Union of Seafarers (NUS) has alleged that new crew members on P&O ferries are being paid less than £2 per hour, which is well below the minimum wage in the UK.
The union claims that P&O is exploiting a loophole in the law that allows companies to pay foreign workers less than the minimum wage if they are employed on ships registered in other countries.
According to the NUS, P&O is hiring crew members from the Philippines and paying them just £1.91 per hour, which is less than a third of the UK minimum wage of £6.56 per hour for workers aged 18-20.
The union has called on the government to close the loophole and ensure that all workers on UK-registered ships are paid at least the minimum wage.
In a statement, the NUS said: “It is unacceptable that P&O is exploiting this loophole to pay its workers less than the minimum wage. These workers are doing the same job as their UK counterparts and should be paid the same rate of pay.”
The union also raised concerns about the working conditions on P&O ferries, claiming that crew members are being forced to work long hours without adequate rest breaks.
P&O has denied the allegations, saying that it complies with all UK and international employment laws and regulations.
In a statement, the company said: “P&O Ferries is committed to providing fair and competitive employment terms and conditions to all its employees, regardless of their nationality or place of work.”
The company added that it has a “zero-tolerance policy” towards any form of exploitation or mistreatment of its workers.
The NUS has called for an urgent meeting with P&O to discuss the allegations and to ensure that all workers on its ferries are paid a fair wage and have decent working conditions.
The union has also called on the government to take action to close the loophole and to ensure that all workers on UK-registered ships are paid at least the minimum wage.
