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New French Labour Law Aiming to Protect Ship Workers Is Unanimously Passed

22nd July 2023
France-Channel Islands operator, Manche Îles Express have previously warned the labour law would make it difficult for the company to recruit. The operator Afloat adds run services from Diélette, Barneville-Carteret and Granville, all located on the west coast of the Cotentin peninsula, Normandy.  Also in the region is Cherbourg from where Irish Ferries operate to Dublin Port, Brittany Ferries to Rosslare in addition Stena Line on the France-Ireland route. While on the English Channel, Brittany Ferries are the dominant operator on the western ‘Channel’ but not on the Dover-Calais market, where Irish Ferries compete with P&O Ferries and DFDS which also operates Dieppe-Newhaven (branded as Transmanche Ferries).
France-Channel Islands operator, Manche Îles Express have previously warned the labour law would make it difficult for the company to recruit. The operator Afloat adds run services from Diélette, Barneville-Carteret and Granville, all located on the west coast of the Cotentin peninsula, Normandy. Also in the region is Cherbourg from where Irish Ferries operate to Dublin Port, Brittany Ferries to Rosslare in addition Stena Line on the France-Ireland route. While on the English Channel, Brittany Ferries are the dominant operator on the western ‘Channel’ but not on the Dover-Calais market, where Irish Ferries compete with P&O Ferries and DFDS which also operates Dieppe-Newhaven (branded as Transmanche Ferries). Credit: manche.iles.express/facebook

Across the Celtic Sea to France where politicians unanimously have backed plans to introduce new laws to tighten employment laws for ferry operators on the English Channel.

The France-Channel Islands operator, Manche Îles Express, previously warned the change would pose recruitment challenges for the ferry firm as it would not be able to continue offering the same perks for staff.

According to ITV News, the new legislation is aimed to protect against the practice of "social dumping", where existing staff are replaced with overseas workers. In addition the replacement staff work for worse pay and conditions.

It was in March 2022 when P&O Ferries, which operates on the Dover-Calais route, North Sea and the Irish Sea, was accused of a similar act when it laid off nearly 800 members of staff and crew. They were replaced with agency workers and allegedly earning around £1.80/hour.

For more on the story click here.

In addition The Currency also reports on the new France law which follows on from a UK pay measure, the Seafarers Wages Bill which formed part of a nine point plan to improve pay and conditions for seafarers which was introduced in July last year.

The new French labour law aims to improve safety on English Channel crossings, however Irish Ferries believes it is about “safeguarding the interests of certain ferry operators who are in receipt of state subsidies”.

For further reading click the story.

Published in Ferry
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!