The Government has failed to do enough to stamp out factory sweat shops, as it was revealed exploited workers are being “robbed of tens of millions in wages”.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Dr Lisa Cameron MP, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Textiles and Fashion, are urging Home Secretary Priti Patel to bring in a new licensing scheme, claiming exploited garment workers have been denied £27 million in lost earnings since July.
Their demand comes after a review into fast fashion giant Boohoo reported it knew about “serious issues” with the treatment of factory workers in Leicester last December, but failed to move quickly enough.
That independent review – commissioned by the Manchester-based online retailer – said it “capitalised” on the commercial opportunities created by lockdown, supporting Leicester factories by not cancelling orders, but taking no responsibility for the impact on the people on the shop floor.
And it blamed “weak corporate governance” for Boohoo’s inadequate monitoring of its Leicester supply chain.
That came despite its chief executive John Lyttle promising to LeicestershireLive in August 2019 that they were taking steps to ensure their Leicester suppliers gave their workers a fair deal.
Boohoo initially came under fire following a Sunday Times article which alleged that workers in a Leicester factory making clothes for the company were being paid as little as £3.50 an hour.
The fast fashion company had said it would investigate the allegations and end relationships with any supplier it found to have broken its code of conduct.
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In its joint letter, the BRC and more than 50 cross-party MPs and peers as well as 40 retailers, investors and NGOs, called for the Government to introduce a licensing scheme for garment factories in the 海角视频.
It stated a “Fit-to-Trade” licensing scheme “would protect workers from forced labour, debt bondage and mistreatment” by ensuring they are paid the minimum wage and given various other benefits.
The scheme would also encourage retailers to source more of their clothing from the 海角视频, supporting the country’s manufacturing industry.
The BRC estimates that over 10,000 garment factory workers are being paid an average of £3.50 an hour – below the National Minimum Wage of £8.72.
Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “The BRC has repeatedly called on Government to do more to prevent labour exploitation in the 海角视频 garment manufacturing industry.
“Despite numerous reports in the media, and a previous letter to the Home Secretary signed by over 50 MPs and peers and more than 40 retailers, investors and NGOs, we have not seen any action from Government to bring this injustice to an end.
“All the while garment workers are robbed of tens of millions of pounds in wages.”
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Ms Dickinson added: “Our members continue to stand firm against labour exploitation. Implementing statutory licensing of 海角视频 garment factories would ensure they are all ‘Fit to Trade’.
“We hope the Home Secretary joins us in this fight.”
In a statement to the BBC, the Home Office said: “Exploiting vulnerable workers for commercial gain is despicable and we expect businesses to do all they can to tackle abuse and exploitation in their supply chains.
“We are deeply concerned by the appalling reports of illegal and unsafe working conditions for garment workers in Leicester, and will ensure perpetrators face the full force of the law if evidence comes to light through the work of our new specialist Taskforce, led by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.”