P&O Ferries has scrapped its attempt to cut agency staff pay after being reported to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The Dubai-owned company was reported by the RMT Union, which said it had heard that agency workers in Dover were being asked to sign new contracts on lower pay.
Last month, P&O Ferries sacked around 800 UK-based sailors without notice, replacing them with agency staff on £5.15 an hour, which compares to the UK minimum wage of £8.91.
The company said it made the move after losing around £100mln during the pandemic, although its parent company DP World made £2.9bn in profits last year.
READ: P&O Ferries boss claims it would go bust if it re-hires staff
The RMT said that a worker on the Spirit of Britain ferry had contacted the union asking for help in a pay dispute.
In an email seen by the BBC, the worker wrote: “They don’t care about our rights. They try to give us less money. We are desperate.”
The worker wrote: “This is my sixth day working without a contract, please help us!”
The RMT said P&O was “trying to bring in an exploitative model, with the lowest possible standards they can get away with”.
READ: P&O Cruises reiterates it's 'not P&O Ferries' as full service resumes
Transport secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC that the government will legislate to force the company to pay the minimum wage.
Tomorrow, P&O's Spirit of Britain ferry will be the first Dover-to-Calais ferry to resume operations after being cleared to resume sailing after being held at port since 12 April due to a number of issues.