Britain canceled a contract with P&O Ferries "with immediate effect." It was the UK's latest action against the DP World (Dubai)-owned ferry company after its decision to axe hundreds of staff earlier in 2022.
The Home Office (interior ministry) revealed it was ending its agreement with P&O to provide contingency travel services to "juxtaposed ports" where British staff operate border controls in France and Belgium to check passengers/freight destined for Britain.
It comes after P&O Ferries, whose vessels sail across the North Sea, Irish Sea, and the English Channel laid off ~800 workers in March this current year and went on to hire cheaper agency staff.
A criminal investigation into P&O Ferries' move was launched.
Transport minister Grant Shapps has set out plans to introduce legislation to ensure ferry ship operators using British ports pay the national minimum wage.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem (DP World's director) told the Financial Times that it was too late to reverse the job cuts, adding that the government could not do anything now as the decision was in the past.
P&O Ferries has a fleet of 20+ vessels and operates 30,000+ voyages per year.