Shapps calls on ‘brazen’ P&O Ferries boss to quit
Transport secretary Grant Shapps says P&O Ferries boss ‘showed incredible arrogance’ and should resign.
It comes after chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite admitted to MPs the company broke the law by not consulting before sacking 800 workers.
“Even though they know they’ve broken the law, what they’ve done is to pay people off in such a way to try and buy their silence. It’s unacceptable,” Shapps told Sky News.
Shapps said new legislation may be signed off to ‘close every possible loophole that exists, and force them to U-turn.’
“We can’t have a situation where the minimum wage exists onshore, but as soon as you’re offshore … people aren’t covered by British laws on things like minimum wage, and overseas cheap labour is exploited on those routes,” he added.
Referring to the below minimum wage offer to new staff, Hebblethwaite said:” This is an international seafaring model that is consistent with models throughout the globe and our competitors.”
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