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NEU Senior Regional Support Officer
Leicester’s garment industry crisis is a microcosm of the global assault on workers’ rights
The government has underfunded the Health and Safety Executive and allowed zero-hours contracts and poor pay to flourish. No wonder workers are at risk of Covid-19, says CLAUDIA WEBBE MP
A man wearing a protective face mask walks past artwork in Leicester

WHEN I was elected as member of Parliament for Leicester East, ending workplace exploitation was — and remains — one of my most important priorities. 

Leicester has the largest number of garment workers in the UK. There are an estimated 1,500 garment manufacturing businesses in the city, employing around 10,000 people, the majority of whom are women from migrant communities. 

A recent study by HM Revenue and Customs found that, over a six-year period, a quarter of all UK textile factories caught failing to pay the minimum wage were based in Leicester, with some textile factories reportedly offering less than £3.50 an hour.

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