Lib Dem Euro MP backs safeguards for Dockworkers

12.00.00am GMT Tue 11th Mar 2003

Andrew Duff, Lib-Dem Euro-MP for the East of England, today backed new EU legislation to allow competition across Europe in the market for port services such as the loading and unloading of ships. But he insisted on the inclusion of effective safeguards for local dockworkers.

Duff has worked with his European Liberal Democrat colleagues to get strict conditions for the licensing of new port service providers so as to ensure high standards of environmental protection and labour conditions. The Parliament voted to support Lib Dem proposals to make these licenses mandatory for all service providers.

Andrew Duff said:

"This directive will bring a welcome degree of competition into the port sector while maintaining the special structure of UK ports. Our modern ports like Felixstowe, Harwich, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Tilbury and Purfleet need not fear that their dockers will be undercut by ship-owners employing cheap, poorly trained labour from outside the EU to load and unload their own ships.

"We have worked hard to get the best deal for the East coast ports."

The European Parliament also voted in favour of Lib Dem amendments to introduce additional safeguards for "self-handling" port workers.