ILO rebukes UK government

The TUC and the RMT and Nautilus maritime unions have warned that there is nothing to stop another P&O Ferries scandal from happening again under current UK law, after the ILO — the UN workers’ rights watchdog — rebuked the government over its failures.

Following a complaint from UK and international union bodies, the ILO called for increased sanctions on companies that ignore the law, and action to ensure workers can get their jobs back. “Despite admitting acting illegally, P&O Ferries have faced no sanctions and have been let off the hook for their appalling treatment of staff,” said the unions.

Conservative ministers “haven’t lifted a finger”, they added, but have instead spent at least £600,000 on P&O Ferries’ services and offered lucrative freeport contracts to its parent company DP World.