Employment rights bill 'will help prevent repeat of P&O scandal'

The employment rights bill has made important strides to prevent another P&O Ferries scandal but more remains to be done, according to trade union leaders.

- Julia Kollewe

The TUC, Nautilus and RMT unions said more measures to stop "unscrupulous" employers treating staff like "disposable labour" were needed as they marked three years since P&O fired more than 780 mainly UK workers. Given no notice or consultation, the workers were replaced with low-cost agency staff from countries including India, the Philippines and Malaysia. P&O later admitted the lack of consultation was a breach of UK employment law.

In November, the Guardian reported that the company had spent £47m on the sackings.

The scandal was back in the spotlight because the prime minister, Keir Starmer, had rebuked his then transport secretary, Louise Haigh, for referring to the ferry company as a "rogue operator". DP World, P&O's Dubai-based owner, had reportedly threatened to halt a £1bn investment in the UK.