UK: P&O Ferries could face prosecution over sackings, minister says
'P&O Ferries could face prosecution over sackings, minister says', 22 March 2022
"P&O Ferries could face prosecution over the sacking of 800 workers, the business minister, Paul Scully, warned before a government ultimatum to the company. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, has said he will review all government contracts and dealings with the company and its owners, DP World.
On Tuesday, the RMT union said seafarers from abroad had been brought in to replace the 800 sacked British crew and were being paid as little as £1.80 an hour. P&O Ferries disputes the figures but it declined to discuss the rates or give alternative rates and would not confirm whether it paid the minimum wage.
Scully said the government was examining whether the company had followed the proper procedure before mass redundancies. Shapps has given the company a deadline of Tuesday night to explain how the procedures were followed. “If they have flouted the notification law where they are supposed to tell the secretary of state when they are going to make more than a hundred people redundant, then there are criminal sanctions involved in that, including an unlimited fine,” he said. “We have reserved the right to approach the prosecuting authorities should that be the right thing to do.”..."