The UK government has rejected claims by port authorities that they are unsuited to police proposed minimum wage rules for seafarers.
The government introduced legislation in Parliament on Wednesday to try to prevent a repeat of the sacking in March of nearly 800 P&O Ferries crew members, who were replaced by lower-paid agency staff.
The bill followed a four-week industry consultation in which many respondents complained that port authorities lacked the expertise to police the system, which would include imposing penalties on those breaking the rules.
