‘Bad Boss’ double for leading promoter

One of the best-known promoters at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been handed two awards by campaigners against the exploitation of venue workers – after being accused of paying “sweatshop” wages of just 50 pence an hour.

C Venues, which runs more than 20 spaces across the city, has been targeted after a plea for anonymous nominations from Fringe workers unhappy at their pay and conditions.

The company, which has been staging shows at the Fringe since 1992, is said to have offered some “volunteer” staff just £200 for working the entire Fringe.

The Fair Fringe campaign instigated the “not so prestigious” Bad Boss Awards this month to highlight the firms it says are behind the worst exploitation. It has previously criticised C Venues in a dossier said to offer only “a glimpse into the shameful practices employers use to staff their venues”.

C Venues was given separate awards for poor pay and a “horrible working environment”. No one from the promoter was available to comment.

Fair Fringe campaigner Christine Chesterman said: “The campaign has uncovered shocking treatment of workers at venues across Edinburgh. The Bad Boss Awards may be the least coveted awards of the festival, but they help shine a light on the exploitation of workers taking place in many parts of the Fringe.”