Criminal and civil investigations have today been launched into alleged breaches of the law after P&O Ferries sacked 800 workers without any notice. The law requires firms to notify the Insolvency Service 30 or 45 days before making large UK redundancies.
While P&O Ferries did not notify the regulator, they claim they did not break the law due to its ferries being registered to offshore countries. However, Chief Executive Peter Hebblethwaite admitted they were required to consult the unions, but chose not to do so, reports The Mirror.
He said “there’s absolutely no doubt we were required to consult with the unions," adding: "We chose not to do so." He claimed the sackings of 800 people were necessary to let P&O continue operating - brazenly telling MPs: "I would make the same decision again, I'm afraid."
