UK interior minister Priti Patel recently condemned a ‘modern-day scourge’ in the country’s textile sector, following reports that thousands were working in modern slavery. Parliamentarians urged Patel to do more to eradicate the ‘clear evidence of modern slavery in plain sight’ at garment factories, particularly in Leicester, central England. Leicester has at least 1,000 garment factories.
In the last few weeks, campaigners highlighted pressure on workers to stay on the job at textile factories in Leicester despite the COVID-19 outbreak, and wages paid being well below the national minimum of £8.72 an hour.UK interior minister Priti Patel recently condemned a 'modern-day scourge' in the country's textile sector, following reports that thousands were working in modern slavery. Parliamentarians urged Patel to do more to eradicate the 'clear evidence of modern slavery in plain sight' at garment factories, particularly in Leicester, central England.#
Patel said she ‘completely agreed’ with the description of them as ‘a modern-day scourge when it comes to exploitation’, and called for better enforcement of existing legislation.
Andrew Bridgen, who belongs to the ruling Conservative Party, estimated that the city's garment factories could count up to 10,000 victims of modern slavery. Those affected were a ‘mixture of local people and immigrant workers’, some of them illegal, making them ripe for exploitation, he told a news agency.
"The National Crime Agency and others are looking into the appalling allegations about sweatshops in Leicester and the home secretary has been clear that anyone profiting from slave labour will have nowhere to hide," a government spokesman said.
ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)
marketing@alchempro.com
