Boohoo investigating claims of exploitation, Patel told

BOOHOO, the embattled fast-fashion firm, has confirmed in a letter to Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, that it is taking action to investigate allegations of malpractice in its supply chain.

It has called upon the Government to do the same.

The online retailer, which sells Tshirts for as little as £3, has recently come under scrutiny for allegedly paying factory workers in Leicester less than the minimum wage and forcing people to work during the pandemic without protection.

The company manufactures around 40 per cent of its products in the UK. It said in the letter that it was “proud to support UK manufacturing”.

“We firmly believe that ‘Made in Britain’ should be a label of pride for those wearing our clothes and badge of honour for those who make them,” it added. “We wholeheartedly endorse the call by the British Retail Consortium, APPG for Fashion and Textiles and the APPG on Ethics and Sustainability for the Government to implement a ‘Fit to Trade’ licensing scheme.”

Boohoo has previously said it was “shocked and appalled” by the claims first reported by The Sunday Times a fortnight ago. It clarified that Jaswal Fashions, where the undercover investigation took place, had never been a supplier and it did not occupy the site, despite the factory displaying the sign.

The independent investigation will be led by Alison Levitt QC, the former head of the business crime group at law firm Mishcon de Reya, and Brian Small, the company’s deputy chairman.

It is also working with Verisio and Bureau Veritas, the ethical compliance firms, to scrutinise third party suppliers, and vowed to inject £10million to “eradicate supply chain malpractice”.