P&O Ferries CEO Confronts Wage Disparity Amid Scrutiny

Peter Hebblethwaite admits inability to live on the low wages paid to some P&O workers, sparking debate on fair compensation in maritime employment.

P&O Ferries chief, Peter Hebblethwaite, confesses he could not survive on the £4.87 per hour paid to some staff, contrasting sharply with his £508,000 annual earnings.
Hebblethwaite faced tough questioning from MPs regarding the company’s decision to replace 786 workers with lower-paid agency staff, a move he now regrets.
Despite international standards, P&O’s pay rates draw criticism for failing to meet UK minimum wage levels, highlighting gaps in maritime law.
The company remains under government scrutiny with ongoing investigations into its employment practices, despite previous legal clearance.
Labour and union leaders express outrage over the wage disparities and lack of sanctions against P&O’s parent company, DP World, which continues to secure government contracts.