There is “no exploitation” of workers at Rosyth dockyard, despite reports expressing concern for shipbuilders’ jobs and welfare.
Raymond Duguid, head of the dockyard industrial joint council, hit back at claims Fifers were struggling to find employment at the site because of people from Europe being employed on lower rates of pay.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie also slammed those he said had stoked up “reckless and baseless rumours”.
New Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman wrote to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon calling for an investigation into the claims made in a Glasgow tabloid newspaper.
It is understood he has not spoken to the companies on site, local unions or the Aircraft Carrier Alliance.
Mr Duguid insisted there was no maltreatment of workers and all employees were paid at least the same basic sum regardless of their nationality.
He said: “There is a site rate or more getting paid to everyone. We ensure that trade unions working with Babcock, who are very open about that.
“There is no exploitation at Rosyth. People do work 67-hour weeks, but are on a rota six weeks on then three weeks off, so across the reference period they are working an average of 40 hours a week.
“These workers are from Europe, so it gives them a chance to get home and spend some quality time with their families.”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mr Rennie spoke to trade unions at the dockyard to seek clarity on the reports, adding he was “astonished” Mr Chapman had not done so.
He said: “The Aircraft Carrier Alliance and Babcock bend over backwards to create opportunities for local skilled workers and have no truck with paying lower wages to workers from other countries.
“I am impressed that the trade unions’ representatives conduct a monthly random anonymised audit to check there is no exploitation.
“The skilled workers from other countries are playing an important role in filling the skills gap that exists in the United Kingdom. They are not undercutting local skilled workers nor are they being exploited.”
Mr Chapman said he was “asking the right questions to get to the bottom of these claims”, and said he was keen to speak to both management and local trades unions about the issue.
He added: “I am disappointed Willie Rennie is only apparently being interested in trying to make political capital out of a very serious subject and I would ask Mr Rennie to note that Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty has also called for action.”