Today The Garment and Textile Workers Trust has written to the Prime Minister calling for him to take action by creating the promised Single Labour Market Enforcement Body.
This comes as the Trust publishes the findings of research undertaken by the world-renowned Rights Lab at Nottingham University and The School of Law at De Montfort University Leicester.
Additionally, the Trust has announced our ambition to offer free access to English lessons to everyone who wants them, every night of the week and an innovative approach to worker representation.
Kevin McKeever, Chair of the Trust said:
“This research is an important addition to the body of knowledge on labour exploitation in the garment and textile industry and significant in listening to the voices of workers themselves, alongside local government and civil society.
It’s crystal clear that there’s only so much companies, individuals, trade unions and civil society can do to tackle labour exploitation in Leicester and beyond – it’s time for government to step up and form – and fund – their long promised single enforcement body.”
Tim Nelson, CEO of Hope for Justice and founding Trustee added
“It is clear from this research that greater coordination is required from those accountable for protecting the rights of workers employed in the garment industry. Business, charities and individuals can all play their part, but to truly rebuild this country’s proud textile heritage and to protect the sector’s workforce, we need the Government to act. The creation of a single, properly funded labour market enforcement body, with the powers and staff it needs to protect workers, is a vital first step.”
The report is available here.
Kevin McKeever’s letter to the Prime Minister can be found here.
Hi, this is a comment.
To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit the Comments screen in the dashboard.
Commenter avatars come from Gravatar.