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XPO implicated in French criminal case for hiring affordable foreign drivers

CONNECTICUT based transport giant XPO Logistics is involved in a French criminal action against managers of its recent acquisition, Norbert Dentressangle (ND), based south of Lyons, reports Lloyd's Loading List.

But new owner XPO Logistics insists it has complied with the appropriate legislation regarding use of labour and sub-contracting, said the American company, which expects judgment on May 26.

French prosecutors are calling for suspended prison terms against the ND managers for using inexpensive Polish truck drivers while laying off expensive French ones.

France's public prosecutor has demanded three-year suspended prison sentences and fines totalling EUR45,000 (US$49.993) for the six managers for "unlawful loan of labour" and "illegal sub-contracting".

The case, which was tried in the Criminal Court of Valence, south of Lyons, was brought against the company's managers following a complaint by the transport branch of the CFTC trade union.

The union said employed truck drivers from Poland on the French domestic routes, paying them lower Polish rates.

The union said ND had bussed in drivers to France to work for periods of several weeks "at a time when it was laying-off French drivers".

The prosecutor has also demanded that three group companies - ND, ND Volume, ND Silo each be fined EUR225,000.

The company has denied wrongdoing, saying the way foreign subsidiaries act as sub-contractors for other branches complies the law.

"We were pleased with the way our case was presented to the court and we remain confident that our practices are in full compliance with EU transport regulations and national employment law," said the company.