Settlement agreed in ferry stand-off

THE beautician who sparked a labour row when it emerged she was being paid just over €1 an hour to work aboard an Irish Ferries vessel has reached a settlement with the company.

Salvacion Y Ortenero Orge, from the Philippines, left the Isle of Inishmore, after a six-day stand-off when it docked at Rosslare, Co Wexford, last night.

The agreement was reached following a two-hour meeting on board the vessel yesterday morning between Irish Ferries and SIPTU, which was representing Ms Orge.

Following the meeting, at which Ms Orge was present, Irish Ferries confirmed that an agreement had been reached.

But all parties had “agreed to keep confidential” the details of the settlement, the company said in a statement.

A SIPTU spokesman could not be reached for comment last night.

Ms Orge, a 44-year-old mother of three began working aboard the Isle of Inishmore as a beautician last Wednesday.

Her contract stipulated her working 12 hours a day for approximately €355 a month - significantly below national minimum-wage levels.

She was entitled to just three days off each month, in contrast to other staff, who work on alternate weeks.

Irish Ferries, however, said it had been unaware of the nature of Ms Orge’s contract, as she had been recruited for the vessel by an overseas agency, CF Sharp Crew Management.

When details of the contract were publicised, it moved to have the contract cancelled and Ms Orge repatriated, believing the situation was untenable.

However, Ms Orge refused to leave the ferry, and SIPTU intervened on her behalf, enrolling her as a member and requesting that she be taken into direct employment by the company.

Irish Ferries refused to do this, and SIPTU eventually accepted that the company had legitimate difficulties in this regard.

This situation led to yesterday’s talks to see if an alternative settlement could be reached.