P&O Ferries's boss lamented the "tremendous" impact of the layoffs.
Written byTimes Magazine
The head of P&O Ferries said he was "deeply sorry" for the impact on the hundreds of workers who had just been laid off from the company.
But Peter Gabeltwaite insisted the solution was "the route we thought was possible."
In March, P&O Ferries laid off nearly 800 seafarers and replaced them with workers from foreign agencies who paid less than the minimum wage.
The move sparked outrage and prompted calls for Habletwaite to resign.
P&O Ferries said the solution would secure the company's future.
"I deeply regret that our decision had a significant impact on a number of our former employees. And I apologize for that," he added.
However, P&O Ferries's boss insisted the move was "the route we thought was possible" and part of a "tough decision and repositioning for a brighter future."
When P&O Ferries previously made cuts due to the economic stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the company had previously consulted with unions but decided against it when it laid off hundreds more ten weeks ago.
Mr. Habletwaite denied that the firing decision meant the company was in a race to the bottom on salaries and standards and said P&O needed to modernize and become competitive.
Insisting on how he justified ignoring the legal obligation to consult employees before layoffs and details on how and when the decision to lay off employees was made, P&O Ferries's boss declined due to the ongoing investigative opinion of the service in the event of bankruptcy.
He also declined to comment on whether P&O Ferries' flag status meant the company could circumvent workers' rights in the UK.
Mr. Habletwaite was told the decision had caused significant reputational damage, but he said P&O didn't feel it, adding that the company had seen a "strong push for bookings."
When asked about wage levels and the fact that seafarers on the Dover to Calais route are paid well below the UK's national minimum wage, he said the company's salaries were in line with international standards, adding that the crew model was 80% worldwide. Delivery.
Trending News
