Majority of businesses ‘have behaved responsibly’

A FACTORY owner and his son say the textile industry as a whole has been “tarnished with the same brush” despite the majority of businesses being responsibly run.

Yakoob Dassu and his son Aniz said there was little guidance for manufacturers throughout the lockdown and that the national media “narrative” about factories has been unfair.

The family’s firm, ARC Fabrics Ltd, closed its factory when the initial lockdown was announced for several weeks.

But Aniz said “because there was no guidance for factories or manufacturers like there was for retailers and other companies” the decision was for “commercial reasons”.

When ARC Fabrics reopened, it had a health and safety audit to ensure measures would be in place for the safety of workers and compliant with social distancing guidelines.

Aniz said: “Thankfully, we have been in the business since 1978 and we have established resources.

“But for others, there is very little guidance on what to do.”

In response to the national media, Yakoob said: “There are more than 1,000 factories in Leicester and most of them are compliant with rules and regulations so why are we all being tarnished with the same brush?”

Several reports mentioned that factories remained open throughout the lockdown but Aniz said they were “legally entitled to”.

Police have been visiting factories in response to allegations they have been working through lockdown in contravention of the regulations that do apply.

Aniz said: “We know there are factories that are not working in the way they should.

“It’s not something that people didn’t know about – it’s been a dirty open secret for some time.

“There needs to be a lot more action and enforcement from local government and health and safety executives should do more to support.”

Aniz and his father said they were happy to provide other businesses with advice and resources but said the government “should be doing a lot more”.

Aniz said a few factory workers who are off sick or furloughed may have sought out work in other places where payment could be “cash under the table”.

He said: “We have enough work for our workforce but some don’t and workers may be choosing to find work elsewhere.” But he said: “I know people who have been abused in the street on their way to work and told they’re spreading the virus, which is not right.”

Throughout the lockdown, Aniz said manufacturers in Leicester have “collectively gone above and beyond to provide PPE to NHS and careworkers”, something he felt had been unacknowledged.

ARC Fabrics Ltd has provided PPE worth £18,000 to NHS and care workers.