"More than 1,200 textile workers illegally underpaid", 19 November 2024

More than 1,200 garment workers in Leicester were illegally underpaid over the last five years, figures obtained by the BBC have revealed.

The significant wage exploitation has been found in figures released by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), covering the past five financial years from 2019-20 to 2023-24.

A total of £177,678 in National Minimum Wage arrears for workers were identified, with penalties of £338,504 issued to textile companies in the same time period...

The figures come after damning headlines about Leicester's garment supply chain during the pandemic.

Earlier this year, several workers from India told the BBC they accepted between £3 and £5 an hour because they struggled to find work and could not speak English...

HMRC said it had opened 171 cases in Leicester - between April 2019 and April 2024 - which formed the bulk of 255 cases across the UK textile industry.

The tax authority added it had identified more than £390,000 in wage arrears for more than 2,000 workers nationally.

The campaign group Labour Behind the Label described the new figures as "significant" and "deeply concerning", but not surprising.

Kaenat Issufo, from the group, said the underpayment of Leicester textile workers showed there were continuing systemic challenges.

Ms Issufo called for more sustainable, ethical practices that prioritise workers' rights.

"I hope this encourages further action from both policymakers and industry leaders to make Leicester's garment sector a model of integrity and fairness," she said.

HMRC said it had already recovered more than 60% of the unpaid wages it identified nationally, and was using civil powers to recover outstanding pay.

That includes taking action to stop employers liquidating their businesses to avoid paying workers...