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Highlights:
- Ministerial Criticism: DP World faced sharp criticism from UK ministers over P&O Ferries’ mass firings in 2022, raising speculation about its summit attendance.
- Summit and Investment: Despite initial reports, DP World will attend the summit and remains committed to its £1 billion investment in the London Gateway expansion.
- Labour Rights Reforms: New laws have been introduced to improve workers' rights, partly in response to P&O Ferries’ controversial actions.
Global port operator DP World has confirmed its participation in the UK government's International Investment Summit, set to take place today, following speculation that it might withdraw after facing sharp criticism from senior ministers. DP World, which owns ferry operator P&O Ferries, was under fire from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh for its controversial decision to fire 800 British workers in 2022 and replace them with lower-paid overseas staff.
On Friday, reports surfaced that DP World was considering pulling out of the summit, where it was expected to announce a £1 billion investment to expand the London Gateway docks. These reports, initially from Sky News, suggested that DP World was responding to the harsh criticism leveled at its subsidiary, P&O Ferries, with ministers labelling the company’s actions as "manipulation as an employer." Rayner's and Haigh’s comments reflected their discontent over P&O’s treatment of workers, which had sparked widespread outrage and public condemnation last year.
However, over the weekend, DP World denied that it was planning to withdraw from the summit or cancel its planned investment in the London Gateway, a key element of the summit’s agenda. The expansion is intended to solidify London Gateway’s role as a significant logistics hub, reinforcing the UK's trade infrastructure.
In 2022, P&O Ferries faced severe backlash after its sudden decision to dismiss 800 workers without notice, replacing them with overseas staff who were paid significantly lower wages. The move led to public outcry, legal scrutiny, and a wave of negative media attention. In response, the UK government introduced new laws last week aimed at strengthening workers' rights and providing a clearer framework for how companies can treat their employees.
PM Keir Starmer was quick to clarify that the critical remarks made by ministers Rayner and Haigh were not reflective of the government’s position as a whole. Labour MP Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Committee, defended Haigh's remarks, stating that they were "absolutely right" in criticizing P&O’s behavior at the time but acknowledged the need to move forward.
Byrne added that the new laws introduced to regulate workers’ treatment offer a way forward, emphasizing a balance between holding companies accountable and fostering business growth in the future.
