The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
SPORTS DIRECT
MPs have delivered a damning indictment of working conditions at retail giant Sports Direct and warned they could become the norm across Britain.
Founder Mike Ashley was bluntly told he was accountable for the “appalling” working conditions at the firm’s stores and its warehouse in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, with workers treated as “commodities” rather than human beings. In a hard hitting report, the BusinessCommittee said it had been presented with a “disturbing picture” of work practices during its inquiry into the company.
The MPs said evidence presented by employment agencies the Best Connect ion and Transline, which employ staff for Sports Direct, was “woefully poor” and in some cases incorrect.
The committee said it was “deliberately misled” by Transline and urged the company to clarify some of its evidence.
The committee’s report said a spotlight had been shone on the working practices of Sports Direct, which was “extremely disturbing”.
“Workers at Sports Direct were not being paid the national minimum wage, and were being penalised for matters such as taking a short break to drink water and for taking time off work when ill,” it stated.
“Some say they were promised permanent contracts in exchange for sexual favours.
“Serious health and safety breaches also seem to have occurred.”