Domino's Pizza denies claims of staff abuse by franchisee

Domino's Pizza has denied claims that its central HR team has lost control of its franchisees after eight migrant staff were sacked last week amid claims of abuse.

Trade union Unite claimed that Domino's fired the Hungarians for speaking out against "appalling treatment" by a franchise owner in Derby. It said the outlet made sizeable deductions from the workers' wages for tax and national insurance. It also alleged that the migrants were charged £50 per week by the firm to sleep in run-down accommodation.

A Unite spokesman told Personnel Today: "The issue has arisen partly because this is a franchise. We are concerned because this would not have arisen if there had been a clear realisation of the needs and practices in respect of migrant workers. There are questions about the processes within the organisation."

But Domino's insisted that the franchisee in question had enough evidence to refute the allegations made by Unite, and that the company backed him. It added that the eight staff were sacked for refusing to sign a Workers Registration Scheme form.

"Domino's Pizza franchisees are required to comply with stringent operating standards and, if they do not, we take immediate and decisive action," said a spokeswoman. "Both Domino's Pizza and the franchisee are fully aware of the procedures to recruit staff and ensure they have the right to work in the UK," she added. Domino's HR director Jane Roberts did not return our calls.