Boohoo inquiry calls for former Leicester factory workers to give evidence August 5, 2020 The inquiry into poor working conditions at factories used by Boohoo suppliers in Leicester has called for current and former employees to give evidence. Alison Levitt QC, who is leading the inquiry, urged members of the public to give evidence on working conditions in factories in Leicester, what Boohoo knew about the conditions and suggestions [...]
Corporate spy firm tries to clean up ‘James Bond’ industry’s image July 29, 2020 Technology firm Ground Truth Intelligence (GTI) has today launched its ethical investigations platform in London, as the company seeks to shake-up the corporate intelligence industry following high-profile scandals involving companies such as Lekoil and Credit Suisse. The London-headquartered firm is set to provide an “alternative approach” to the global intelligence and investigations industry, offering ethical [...]
UK tax rises: How will Rishi Sunak pay down the coronavirus deficit? July 28, 2020 Rishi Sunak’s first five months as chancellor has seen him shower the UK economy with hundreds of billions of pounds, helping make him the most popular government figure. However, talk has already turned to the ballooning deficit – predicted to be around £350bn this year – and how to reduce it to more manageable levels. [...]
Boohoo to open ‘model garment factory’ in Leicester July 27, 2020 Boohoo, the fast fashion retailer facing allegations of poor working practices at its factory in Leicester, is setting up its own clothing manufacturing facility in the city. The e-commerce giant purchased a former car showroom site in Leicester about six weeks ago to develop a model garment factory in a joint venture with a supplier. [...]
Social licence: How financial markets can switch focus and help solve humanity’s greatest challenges July 21, 2020 If there was ever any question as to whether we value human life more than money, the coronavirus pandemic has surely answered it. The protection of ordinary people, in this country and indeed in almost every country in the world, has come at an extraordinary economic cost. Yet only a minority of people have dared [...]
The Boohoo scandal shouldn’t shock anyone — modern slavery is a pandemic July 21, 2020 No brand today should be “shocked and appalled” at what happens in its own supply chain, as fast fashion brand Boohoo recently claimed to be. To know so little about the sourcing, processes and practices involved in creating a product you sell should be a crime itself. Tales of UK-based sweat shops and modern slavery [...]
Fast fashion firms Asos and Missguided call for action on UK worker exploitation July 20, 2020 Fast fashion retailers Asos and Missguided have called for urgent government action over the exploitation at UK clothing factories, after rival e-commerce firm Boohoo was embroiled in a scandal over the treatment of workers in Leicester. In a letter to home secretary Priti Patel, a group of retailers, MPs and investors, including Allianz Global Investors, [...]
Leicester lockdown to be eased on 24 July July 16, 2020 Leicester’s local lockdown will be eased on 24 July, after a drop in its coronavirus infection rate. Schools, early years child care and some non-essential retail shops will be allowed to reopen next week, but restaurants and pubs will remain closed. Restrictions on travel and meeting more than six people will also remain in place. [...]
Boohoo ‘aware of poor working practices’ in Leicester since 2018, MPs say July 16, 2020 Boohoo was aware of poor working practices at clothing factories in Leicester as early as 2018, MPs have said in a letter to the fast fashion firm. The e-commerce retailer last week launched an independent review of its UK supply chain following allegations of poor conditions and underpayment of workers at the Jaswal Fashions factory [...]
Coronavirus: Leicester lockdown to be reviewed on Thursday July 14, 2020 The local Leicester lockdown will be reviewed on Thursday to assess whether it is safe for the city to partially reopen, health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed. Hancock said “numbers have been coming down in Leicester”, but that “the number of positive cases in Leicester is still well above the rest of the country”. The [...]