First, the Boohoo Group was implicated in the scandal surrounding garment manufacturing sweatshops in Leicester where rates of pay are well below minimum wage. It has been suggested that a director of Boohoo has shares in some of the Leicester garment manufacturing businesses, though this has not yet been corroborated. Nor is there material evidence that Boohoo’s buyers were aware of its main suppliers outsourcing work on its orders to sweatshops. However, questions are being asked as to how well it oversees its supply chain and whether it had been turning a corporate blind eye to what appears to be common practice in the City’s garment manufacturing trade.
Now we learn that fashion retailer Quiz has withdrawn its work from one its Leicester suppliers amid concerns that it was outsourcing work to a subcontractor which was operating outside of the law. In a statement issued by Quiz, it said: “The group is currently investigating the reported allegations, which if found to be accurate are totally unacceptable. From our initial review, we believe that one of Quiz’ suppliers based in Leicester has used a subcontractor in direct contravention of a previous instruction from Quiz.”
The scandal continues to draw headlines and focus has now turned to Leicester City Council which is accused of turning a blind eye to the illicit manufacturing facilities operating in its city. It is not just the matter of workers being underpaid but of the general working conditions, as well as what appears to be a complete disregard for lockdown, and for the requirement that employers provide a safe, socially distanced working environment.
As previously reported, The National Crime Agency has been called in along with other bodies with a view to prosecuting business owners who have repeatedly flouted the law and exploited workers. Unsurprisingly, we are hearing that many have gone to ground having emptied and shuttered their premises, leaving workers unpaid and without jobs.
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