The British ferry company P&O, a subsidiary of the Emirati group DB World, plans to resume traffic between Dover and Calais this week, after a long interruption following the scandal caused by the mass dismissal of sailors.

According to a company source, contacted by AFP on Tuesday, the shipping group plans to resume freight services, possibly as early as Wednesday, and passenger services next week.

However, traffic will remain lower than normal with only one ship, as three others are still immobilized by the British authorities for security reasons, according to this source.

Video conferencing graduates

P & O Ferries had suspended its traffic between Calais and Dover since the announcement, on March 17, of the sudden dismissal (including several hundred by videoconference), without notice in violation of the law, of 800 employees on its boats, replaced by contracts on much less favorable terms.

The Spirit Of Britain ship was detained by British maritime authorities on April 12 after safety breaches were discovered, but the penalty was lifted on Friday.

The company's chief executive, Peter Hebblethwaite, told UK parliamentarians last month that the average pay for new outsourced workers would be £5.50 per hour on average, while the minimum wage in the UK is 9.50 pounds per hour.

He says, however, that international maritime regulations, which he says employees of P&O ships on international lines depend on, allow it.

The government said it was taking legal action against P&O, accusing it of breaking the law with its compulsory layoffs, which sparked a lot of emotion in the UK.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also said he wanted to work with other European countries, notably France, to set up a minimum wage on international maritime journeys in Europe.

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  • Dismissal

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  • Hauts-de-France