(qlmbusinessnews.com Wed. 8th May, 2024) London, UK —
P&O Chief Admits Inadequacy of Crew Pay
P&O Boss Admits Inability to Survive on Crew's £4.87/hr: Shocking Revelations Unveiled.
The head of P&O Ferries, Peter Hebblethwaite, acknowledged before MPs that he could not subsist on the £4.87 hourly wage received by some crew members. This revelation came amidst scrutiny over the company's handling of worker rights and abrupt redundancies.
Hebblethwaite disclosed earning over £500,000 last year, inclusive of bonuses. The grilling by MPs stemmed from P&O's controversial decision to terminate hundreds of employees without prior notice, replacing them with agency staff.
Expressing regret for the dismissals, Hebblethwaite assured, “we would not make that decision again.”
P&O Ferries, famed for its Dover to Calais route, faced public backlash in 2022 for dismissing 786 staff before substituting them with lower-paid workers. This triggered government intervention to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
During the hearing, Hebblethwaite informed MPs that agency workers at P&O could earn as little as £4.87 per hour, which includes overtime and bonuses. Despite the outcry, he maintained that the crew's pay exceeded the minimum international standard.
Critics, including Liam Byrne, accused P&O of exploiting workers, prompting comparisons to “modern-day slavery.” While the UK's minimum wage rose to £11.44 hourly in April, many P&O crew members are recruited abroad, from countries like India and the Philippines.
Hebblethwaite defended the wage structure, citing compliance with international law, but faced scepticism from lawmakers and trade union representatives. Despite his admission that he couldn't survive on £4.87 hourly, Hebblethwaite stood firm, justifying the company's actions as necessary for survival.
The Trades Union Congress criticized P&O's impunity, calling for repercussions and questioning why parent company DP World continued to secure government contracts despite the controversy.
Government reforms are underway to prevent future mass redundancies without notice, aiming to enforce a minimum wage of £11.44 hourly for ferry staff. With similar legislation underway in France, the new UK laws are anticipated to take effect this summer, potentially reshaping the maritime employment landscape.
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