More than half of employed garment workers from Leicester in a new studies say they get paid below minimum wage and not receive holiday pay, almost two years on from revelations of poor standards in factories in the city.
The study was commissioned new bodyApparel and Textile Workers Trust, funded by online fashion retailer Boohoo, as part of of cleanup efforts up his act after the revelations about the poor practice in in groupLeicester supply chain.
116 workers who filled in questionnaire – being taken out for university of Nottingham Law Laboratory and De Montfort University between November last year and in March this year, it turned out that they were still mistreated. Complaints included that workers were not allowed to take breaks, lack of of sick pay and compulsion to work long shifts.
Nearly half (49%) of involved in study did not receive sick pay, 56% were paid below minimum wage, 55% did not receive holiday salary, and the third had no contract and no pay slip was received.
The workers said they get nervous when they talk out for fear of repression, with more how half fearing they would lose their jobs, and 8% said they were not working legally, either because they were claiming benefits or because of their immigration status. About 4% said they were not eligible work in United Kingdom.
Report says that tolerance for “malpractice and criminality” was in part driven by the perception of “ineffective or non-existent enforcement” in answer to problem in Leicester and “no meaningful changes as a result of previous interventions.
He concludes: “Although some problems it may take a generation to resolveimportant progress may be made in short and medium term by expanding initiatives that increase the economic autonomy of workers, removing barriers to intervention in exploitation and promotion of fairer labor practices”.
His 10 recommendations include creating one point of contact for workers who wish to file a complaint with law enforcement instead of contacting HMRC, the Gangster and Labor Abuse Administration, or a line of other bodies responsible for health and safety.
Other recommendations include English language and other trainings for give workers more employment opportunities; and building multisectoral and interagency partnerships at the local level to coordinate action.
Boohoo, which holds its annual shareholder meeting in Leicester later this week to highlight work improve conditions in the factories there provided £100,000 set up trust and another £1 million to fund it first year of grants. body run by an independent board of Trustees, is intended to provide support for remedies and protections for garment and textile workers in Leicester.
A spokesman for Boohoo Group said the company main reason for financing start up of trust was in support it in “empowerment of employees help eradicate any driver of exploitation”.
Boohoo group said in statement: “Independent research what [the trust has] provided by order real-time post Pandemic view of life experience of those who work in and around Leicester’s textile industry. We are completely behind purposes of the trust that do not replace or duplicate the liability and progress what do we have made in strengthening standards and oversight in our own supply chain in in city.
“We are committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure in people who make our clothes have their rights in workplace is protected.
Kevin McKeever, Chairman of trust, said: “It’s crystal clear that there are only so many companies, individuals, trade unions and civil society can do to combat labor exploitation in Leicester and beyond – it’s time for government to step up shape and fund their long-promised unified enforcement. body”.
One supplier from Leicester said he thought the conditions in in city It was improved in in past five years since the big brands now worked with Fast Forward Labor Standards improvement the program will not work with any factory that does not meet ethical standards.
“Those unscrupulous enterprises that are still want work below minimum wage, no chains work with them,” he said.
Dominic Mueller, policy director in Labor Behind the Label warned that fashion retailers should reform their pricing and procurement practices and improve regulation by government.
“Brands should start payment higher prices that allow suppliers and subcontractors to invest in decent work and pay a decent salary – it won’t be long without it term sustainability,” Mueller said.
