P&O Ferries CEO Shockingly Admits Paying Staff Just £4.87 an Hour
Peter Hebblethwaite, boss of P&O Ferries, has sparked fury by openly admitting that some workers earn as little as £4.87 per hour. This startling revelation comes nearly two years after the company caused outrage for its mass sackings, dubbed “piracy” by critics.
CEO Defends Low Pay Despite Earning Half a Million
Under fire from MPs at the Business and Trade Committee, Hebblethwaite defended P&O’s pay practices. He insisted staff weren’t exploited and rebuffed calls for an independent probe. But he admitted he personally couldn’t live on £4.87 an hour – especially when he banked £508,000 last year, including a £183,000 bonus.
Hebblethwaite argued P&O operates under international laws as a company sailing international waters. He claimed their pay is above global minimum standards and stressed a need for fair competition with rivals.
Mass Layoffs and Low Pay Spark Outrage
- In 2022, P&O fired 786 workers overnight.
- The firm replaced them with cheaper agency staff earning rock-bottom wages.
- Ministers, unions, and the public slammed the blitz as corporate “piracy.”
Despite widespread criticism, the Insolvency Service took no criminal action. The ferry giant has been owned by Dubai-based DP World since 2019.
MPs Demand Answers – But CEO Refuses Independent Probe
The Guardian and ITV News exposed pay slips showing agency workers pocketing just £4.87 an hour — a figure Hebblethwaite confirmed. When pressured on morality, the CEO dodged direct answers on “piracy” accusations but conceded he couldn’t live on those wages himself.
Labour MP Charlotte Nichols called for an independent investigation, but Hebblethwaite stood firm, pointing to retention rates as proof of fair treatment.
Government Promises to Close Offshore Wage Loophole
Maritime staff hired via overseas agencies on foreign-flagged ships in international waters dodge UK minimum wage laws. The government has vowed to shut this legal loophole soon.
Hebblethwaite recently signed the Government Seafarers’ Charter, committing to pay at least the UK minimum wage in British waters. Still, fears linger over fresh job cuts and staffing shake-ups.
Unions Furious at Lack of Accountability
Paul Nowak, Trades Union Congress boss, slammed Hebblethwaite’s chilling lack of remorse over the sackings. He questioned why P&O escaped sanctions despite their ruthless tactics.
This scandal shines a harsh light on unfair labour practices in the maritime world and exposes urgent need for stronger worker protections.
