Boo Hoo under investigation for modern slavery in Leicester

[Cherie]

nline fashion giant Boohoo is facing a modern slavery investigation after workers in Leicester making clothes linked to the company were found to have been paid as little as £3.50 an hour, according to an undercover report.
The clothing brand has been a rare financial success story during the coronavirus crisis but has recently been accused of putting employees at risk of Covid-19 by working with factories which continued to operate during the UK’s lockdown.

An investigation by The Sunday Times found a factory in Leicester displaying the sign "Jaswal Fashions" was operating during the city’s localised lockdown last week without social distancing measures in plac

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/boohoo-leicester-factories-modern-slavery-boohoo-leicester-factories-modern-slavery-investigation-a9602086.html

[arista]

Yes Covid-19 spreaded
because of the Greedy Local Boss

[rusticgal]

Hmm my boys buy from BOOHOO MAN and its decent quality for the prices they charge. Shame on them. However as we return to work after this virus many companies are taking advantage of their workers with low rates of pay...but those rates are illegal and appalling.

[LaLaLand]

I always use Boohoo Man :skull:

Been a bit dubious after seeing the item about then on Joe Lycett’s show though about how they don’t cleanly returned items and people have bought clothes with sweat stains, blood and ALL OTHER bodily fluids on them :omgno:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Lol

[bots]

just about everything we buy will have a component that is produced by questionable means. This is the tip of the iceberg

[Kizzy]

just about everything we buy will have a component that is produced by questionable means. This is the tip of the iceberg

You're missing the point, there's no disputing that the clothing industry involves exploitation of the workforce internationally. Not everywhere has the rights and protections we are meant to enjoy, it is this that is under the spotlight here.

[bots]

You're missing the point, there's no disputing that the clothing industry involves exploitation of the workforce internationally. Not everywhere has the rights and protections we are meant to enjoy, it is this that is under the spotlight here.

i'm not missing the point at all

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1280077617350291457/HUWbmVOb?format=jpg&name=small

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1280096501696471046/gQKFsQVJ?format=jpg&name=small

[The Slim Reaper]

You ok, Arista?

[bots]

You ok, Arista?

my browser now automatically blocks anything from leave.eu so all i see are blank posts :laugh:

[Liam-]

*Independent company drastically underpays and overworks their employees*
‘It’s labours fault! I bet Corbyn is behind it the dirty stinking commie bastard grr!’

Those people get more and more ridiculous

[The Slim Reaper]

my browser now automatically blocks anything from leave.eu so all i see are blank posts :laugh:

All I see are blank posts too.

[joeysteele]

my browser now automatically blocks anything from leave.eu so all i see are blank posts :laugh:

I never read anything from that source.
To coin an arista phrase,if he doesn't mind.

You are most wise.

[Toy Soldier]

All I see are blank posts too.

I get this fairly often with arista's posts too :think:. I can see them in this case, though. It's just some propaganda you're not missing much.

[MB.]

*Independent company drastically underpays and overworks their employees*
‘It’s labours fault! I bet Corbyn is behind it the dirty stinking commie bastard grr!’

Those people get more and more ridiculous

I can't believe this story broke over 24 hours ago and the ghost of Bob Crow hasn't issued one measly press release

(but yes, employers, stop exploiting less-than-mimimum-wage workers who are particularly susceptible to viruses in the middle of a pandemic, do that challenge)

[Kizzy]

i'm not missing the point at all
Clearly you are if you can't see why this is a bigger issue here than elsewhere.

[arista]

You ok, Arista?


Yes fine

[Kizzy]

How do we know this isn't nationwide, why is the onus on leicester, If it's happening there surely it's happening in other areas?

[arista]

How do we know this isn't nationwide, why is the onus on Leicester, If it's happening there surely it's happening in other areas?


Of Course Kizzy

But this zone is in Lockdown
and many claim it was the Clothes Factories
that has so many under paid staff
close to each other.

[Cherie]

If its rife, others will whistleblow, and you would assume the under cover investigator has done further research, time will tell

[Marsh.]

The bloody boohoo jingle in my head every time I see this thread. :fist:

But, yeah, disgusting practices, shut them down.

[Toy Soldier]

I remember I encountered a modern slave once when I did a trial shift for a small bistro restaurant. Which I was supposed to be paid for and never was, so I guess I was a slave for a day too? :think:

Anyway, it was run by an Indian businessman and he had teenager working there, also from India, who he honestly talked to like a dog all day. Constantly threatening to "send him back and get a replacement". Poor kid didn't speak much English but told me when we were left alone that he was getting paid less than £2 an hour (12 hour+ days for £20 a day), off the books :umm2:. I left at the end of the shift and never looked back, maybe I should have contacted the local council or something but I was only in my early 20's myself so I didn't really know what I was seeing. The place shut down a year or so later, anyway.

[bots]

lets face it, corona has highlighted it because clearly the people were working in slave conditions as well as being paid that way. It's not really a surprise, if someone is not paying the minimum wage, why would they respect the social distancing laws either. Thats the thing with a covid pandemic and track and trace, it will highlight if any employer is flouting the law

[GoldHeart]

That's another fashion brand to add to the long list of exploitation and slavery wow

[Amy Jade]

Boohoo have been sending stuff obviously worn and sent out with stains on for years.

About a year ago I ordered a top off them and it had make up all on the inside and neckline, I sent it back and they sent me a new one and a voucher, I posted about it on facebook and loads of girls had found the same, one girl I went to college with bough shoes with dried blood on the heels she said :umm2:

[GoldHeart]

Boohoo have been sending stuff obviously worn and sent out with stains on for years.

About a year ago I ordered a top off them and it had make up all on the inside and neckline, I sent it back and they sent me a new one and a voucher, I posted about it on facebook and loads of girls had found the same, one girl I went to college with bough shoes with dried blood on the heels she said :umm2:

Eww That's horrible :umm2: , I've never shopped with boohoo so I was unaware of their reputation .

[arista]

[Next, Asos and Amazon
drop Boohoo clothes from their websites as influencers turn
their backs and £1bn is wiped off fast
fashion firm's value in two days over
Leicester lockdown factories scandal]


https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/07/07/13/30408522-8497873-Pictured_Workers_at_the_Faiza_Fashion_factory_in_L eicester_conti-m-39_1594125821654.jpg

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8497873/Instagram-influencers-Jayde-Pierce-Vas-Morgan-turn-backs-Boohoo.html

[arista]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/150D0/production/_113342268_sundaytimes.png



All Labour MP's in charge of that area
have appeared to turn a blind eye
to these terrible factorys


Being debated Live on LBC radio now

One Worker only gets £2 a hour

[Cherie]

Well well

[Liam-]

1282183806875770881

[Cherie]

1282183806875770881

Gone on for decades...well well

[The Slim Reaper]

Not only that, but resources have been stripped away from local councils for over a decade now, so this is another consequence of voting for people that don't believe in governing.

[Cherie]

Not only that, but resources have been stripped away from local councils for over a decade now, so this is another consequence of voting for people that don't believe in governing.

How can that be mounted as a defence if it’s an open secret?

[Livia]

It's been allowed to continue for the same reason that young white girls were raped and abused by Pakistani men for years. No one wants to appear racist.

[The Slim Reaper]

How can that be mounted as a defence if it’s an open secret?

It's not a defence because the government refused to act. I don't need to defend anyone on this matter; lawyers have been pressing BEIS and HMRC for over 2 years.

[The Slim Reaper]

It's been allowed to continue for the same reason that young white girls were raped and abused by Pakistani men for years. No one wants to appear racist.

Young girls of all ethnicities have been raped by men of all ethnicities for human history, so it's quite a stretch to suggest that the real issue is no one wanting to appear racist, especially in today's world where people happily wear their bigotry like a badge of honour.

[Kizzy]

It's also a stretch to suggest this a problem only within predominantly Asian communities, look at the explosion in 'agencies' that hire temp to work in warehouses, construction and farms. This too is modern day slavery that we close a blind eye to and swallow the ' British' people are too lazy to work these jobs'.
It's happening in many sectors not only is industry being outsourced but labour too, Id be surprised if any of those people in that sweatshop were British citizens.
They are being exploited because they are allowed to, the only reason it was exposed was due to covid, otherwise that wouldn't even have warranted investigation.

I don't agree that accusations of racism were the reason for the lack of scrutiny, in the same way I don't believe children in care homes weren't protected from certain groups, they were not a priority. I've heard the ' community cohesion' argument and I just don't buy it.

All groups black, white, rich and poor exploit if they can and for years many people have been allowed to exploit with impunity, in Labour, Lib dem and conservative run councils.

Do I think it's getting better? No, in fact I'd say it's getting worse. Look at the seasonal workers flown in on private charter planes to pick fruit and veg, are they getting a fair wage, PPE, adequate accomodation?... but this has been rationalised as they are 'skilled' workers, which of course is bull, they are slaves.. as in days of yore wealthy landowners are cashing in devoid of any contractual obligations.

Look also at the construction industry, the tory donating sweethearts..how riddled with exploitation is that? Anyone remember ' blacklisting'? Anyone attempting to organise workers movements or complain about health and safety found themselves unemployable.

In short, I'm not surprised by this it's always happened and unless there is real and independent regulation it always will.

[Marsh.]

It's been allowed to continue for the same reason that young white girls were raped and abused by Pakistani men for years. No one wants to appear racist.

And what about all the... blatant racism?

[arista]

[Leicester: Up to 10,000 could be victims of modern slavery
in textile factories
Asked if claims of widespread exploitation
in the city are an "open secret",
deputy mayor Adam Clarke replies: "It's just open."]


[Smashed windows are patched up
with cardboard. Fabric is draped so it's impossible to see inside.]


https://news.sky.com/story/leicester-up-to-10-000-could-be-victims-of-modern-slavery-in-textile-factories-12027289

[arista]

https://storify.com/services/proxy/2/BSlPtQwbZVB2g-6T2XYlgw/https/media.fyre.co/n9F74TVZTU6oGDp5J3mT_2908%20Guardian.JPG

[Marsh.]

It's been allowed to continue for the same reason that young white girls were raped and abused by Pakistani men for years. No one wants to appear racist.

And all the white rapists on the streets are because of what?