Trade unions in the UK have called for proper legal protection for seafarers on the second anniversary of the P&O Ferries mass sudden sackings scandal, warning that government ministers have “done nothing” to stop other ferry firms from following suit.

The Strait of Dover, North Sea, and Irish Sea ferry operator fired 786 British crew on 17 March, 2022 (when all the fleet were instructed to stay in port), in order to replace them with low-paid agency staff. Although the DP World-owned ferry firm admitted to breaking the law, it has continued to operate without sanction while undercutting rival operators on the issue of labour costs.

Two years after the large-scale sackings, unions said that, despite the widespread outrage expressed by the government at the time, ministers had not closed the legal loopholes exploited by P&O Ferries. In addition to not sanctioning the firm or DP World.

In July 2022, the government introduced a new bill to stop firms using legal loopholes to pay low wages, following P&O Ferries’ mass sackings. The government has pledged to pass the Seafarers’ Wages Act, in an attempt to enforce minimum wage legislation for ships operating primarily in British ports, but such legislation has yet to pass.

It has launched a seafarers’ charter, but all the UK-Europe ferry operators—Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Stena Line, and Condor Ferries (Channel Islands)—are signatories to the commitment to work towards higher standards, though P&O and Irish Ferries have not signed up.

More The Guardian reports on the legacy following the fallout of P&O Ferries.