P&O sackings: Committee Chairs urge immediate and long-term action, setting out ten recommendations for Government

• Read the corrrespondence
• Inquiry: P&O Ferries
• Transport Committee
• Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee

In a joint letter to the Transport and BEIS Secretaries of State, Huw Merriman MP and Darren Jones MP say the Departments must work collaboratively to address some of the ‘appalling’ evidence laid out last week.

The joint oral evidence session examined matters of ‘deep public concern’ in relation to business practices and employment law. In their letter, the Chairs set out 10 top-line conclusions ranging across:

• The well-being of the sacked seafarers
• Addressing the uncertainty and application of related employment and maritime law
• The powers of the Maritime and Coastal Agency and Insolvency Service
• Actions to update employment law and key protections for workers
• Potential action against P&O Ferries and other potential law-breaking companies.

The Chairs jointly called for the resignation of the Chief Executive, Peter Hebblethwaite.

A copy of the letter is attached for your information. The deadline for a response from Government is April 4, 2022.

Responses from P&O to evidence requests

The Committees are also publishing correspondence from P&O relating to requests made during the evidence session.

These are:

• Letters notifying the relevant authorities in Cyprus, Bahamas and Bermuda of P&O’s proposed actions (Q100-106 in the P&O/DP World transcript)
• The risk assessment completed by P&O in relation to Chris Loder’s request (Q185 in  the P&O/DP World transcript)

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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