The home secretary, has reportedly told fast fashion giant Boohoo to “step up and take responsibility” for its suppliers, which have been accused of exploiting workers paid as little as £3.50 an hour, The Times reported.
In a letter to Boohoo chief executive John Lyttle, Patel criticised the company’s response to an on-going investigation where the Company’s workers are allegedly being treated like modern-day slaves.
In her letter Priti Patel wrote, “I am concerned that your response to recent reports of labour exploitation in your supply chains appears to be focused on terminating contracts with suppliers found to have breached your code of conduct, rather than on protecting vulnerable workers. I would expect Boohoo to work with its suppliers to ensure that workers are protected and remediated.
“Many fashion brands have published the names, addresses and ‘supply chain role’ of their direct suppliers to enable effective public scrutiny of their supply chains.”
She has also demanded that the company “increase public transparency” in its supply chains to “regain public trust”.
Boohoo has denied allegations that some of its suppliers were paying staff less than the minimum wage, but ended contracts with two suppliers that had not followed its code of conduct.
