Anyone live in Leicester? The lockdown there has been extended.

tickingbird

And just who do you think own these sweatshops?

The owners.

welbeck

following all the cuts to public spending, the attack on so-called useless quangos etc, there are far fewer inspection officials to seek out and regulate all areas of public health and safety. including environmental health, trading standards, health&safety executive etc. anyone for sweatshops?
remember how the very phrase 'elf n safety became a watchword for mockery. not so funny now.
we don't notice how our lives depend upon standards and regulation until we complain at their absence/ inadequacy.

?

The owners growstuff.

It’s obviously painful for you.

tickingbird

*The owners* growstuff.

It’s obviously painful for you.

What are you going on about?

According to what I read these factories have poor immigrants working around the clock for something like £3 per hour, and even being told to go in when they’re ill. The unscrupulous owners have also been claiming furlough payments. Just despicable. If true, it makes one wonder what type of greedy, uncaring people could do this to desperate people travelling here for a better life, only to be exploited. No doubt lodgings are provided where they’re crammed on top of each other. It sickens me.

growstuff

It sounds as though the police and public health officials are going to be kept busy.

Maybe people who have criticised sweat shops in undeveloped countries should have been looking closer to home.

More than anything, we all need transparency, the truth and good communication.

I agree.

We are being encouraged to buy goods which are Made in Britain in the belief they are manufactured under strict guidelines and that the workers are paid at least a minimum wage and that their working conditions adhere to H&S rules.
The same can be said for Italy, too, Italian leather goods are extremely expensive but the workers are not paid the going rate.

I assume you support EU regulations on workplace practices and actually enforcing them tickingbird. Hopefully. the UK will transfer EU laws and actually do something about them rather than turning a blind eye. It's gratifying to read about your concern for immigrants.

I still don't see what difference it makes who the owners are. If they're breaking the law, they should be prosecuted. That will, of course, mean funding enforcement agencies properly and and ensuring the ted tape is tied firmly.

Callistemon

growstuff

It sounds as though the police and public health officials are going to be kept busy.

Maybe people who have criticised sweat shops in undeveloped countries should have been looking closer to home.

More than anything, we all need transparency, the truth and good communication.

I agree.

We are being encouraged to buy goods which are Made in Britain in the belief they are manufactured under strict guidelines and that the workers are paid at least a minimum wage and that their working conditions adhere to H&S rules.
The same can be said for Italy, too, Italian leather goods are extremely expensive but the workers are not paid the going rate.

I agree with you Callistemon. It's all a sham.

Is it true that Johnson has said Sheffield is going to be next ? I missed the interview [or whatever it was].

MayBee70

Is it true that Johnson has said Sheffield is going to be next ? I missed the interview [or whatever it was].

Apparently Johnson confused Sheffield with Leicester.

Well, it's some city north of Watford - geography obviously isn't his strength!

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/boris-johnson-confuses-sheffield-and-leicester-1-6729817

Matt Hancock confused Kirklees and Keighly in an interview on the today programme, 3 days ago. Does make you wonder!
Do they know anything about the country?

I think there are quite a few going to be 'next'

Have a look at the case numbers in LAs here:

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/#category=ltlas&map=case&area=e06000047

Thanks for highlighting that Maizie.

If I weren't just an armchair observer and actually had some authority, I'd be looking at anywhere with a rate over 500/100,000 and keeping an eye. If the rate stays that high over a few days, I'd order an urgent meeting with a local public health person/local authority. I'd want to know what the local circumstances were and put in place mitigating measures.

The measures needed for each authority would probably be different, but I'd make sure the resources were there. That might be extra testing/tracing, accommodation for people to self-isolate, continuation of food parcels/shopping, financial help for those who shouldn't work, extra police to break up gatherings, environmental officers to monitor workplaces, temporary emergency restrictions ... whatever it takes.

Of course there would be people who would try to "escape" the restricted area, so people would need to be told directly that their area was in a danger zone and have it explained how important personal responsibility is via posters, local radio, social media, etc. People might develop some community spirit (a kind of Blitz spirit) to get their area out of the danger zone.

Just a thought ...

My relatives who live in the hotspot in Italy were under very strict lockdown - they couldn’t go more than 200 metres from their house, had to wear a mask, carry papers everywhere etc, now the bars, hairdressers, gyms etc have been open for a month or so. Our lockdown was a joke by comparison.

It's interesting that Ashford in Kent now has the highest rate of infection after Leicester. Speculating here, but could it have anything to do with armies of fruit pickers living in cramped conditions?

If it is, why were people being encouraged to go and pick fruit just a few weeks ago? Did people really want to send others to an infection hotspot?

A rate of 978, which Ashford has, means that 1 in every 100 people is infected (very nearly the same as Leicester). Nobody really knows who that one person is, until he/she has infected others.

Was watching a video on FB. It showed police being called to a house in Leicester after reports of a party in full swing.

This video was filmed by the people who lived opposite and I watched in disbelief as young people (mainly white) poured out the front door. There must have been at least 50 crammed into that small house, probably more.

There is a report of police having to close 2 businesses in Leicester 'hotspot' and the police are 'watching' dozens more.

There are also reports that the suburbs of Oadby and Wigston are showing increasing cases. These are more affluent areas.

In the Daily Mail today there’s an article about shocking practices in many of the ONE THOUSAND clothing factories. That figure alone stunned me! Some are tiny outlets run from inside terrace houses or garages. Some are off-grid.

Workers have been saying they are paid now £4 an hour. Illegal surely? The new slave labour?

One man stated “I'm of indian origin and live in Leicester. My mumworks in one of these factories and has self isolated since March as she in early 60s. The fact is all these factories are owned by sikhs hindus and Muslims.

Leicester is a city full of far majority labour voters going back decades. The point is this is all allowed to happen is because the factory bosses are connected to the people who run Leicester.

This is all legalised crime and it won’t stop - just that there’s a bit more scrutiny today because of covid 19.”

How are these people even living on £4 an hour? Claiming benefits to supplement?

The bosses should be hauled over the coals, given hefty fines or imprisonments.

When you think there’s been demonstrations about slavery practices, tearing down a statue in Bristol etc yet all this is rife in Leicester!

To keep it relevant (sorry) some of the workers are saying no masks or hand sanitizer provided (I suppose take your own) but social distancing non-existent.

And some of the workers know that people feeling unwell have still arrived at work ... as they are poor and need the money.

Throw the book at these sweat shop factories!

I'm afraid, Ug, that 'the book' that you'd like to see thrown at the sweat shops is the one which tories like the ERG want to get rid of. Deregulation (all that nasty red tape) is the name of their game.

It's interesting that Ashford in Kent now has the highest rate of infection after Leicester. Speculating here, but could it have anything to do with armies of fruit pickers living in cramped conditions?

Could it be recent arrivals in small boats? There is work for them in cities like Leicester.

Leicester is a city full of far majority labour voters going back decades. The point is this is all allowed to happen is because the factory bosses are connected to the people who run Leicester.

It has a Labour mayor (who stupidly broke lock down) and Labour MPs. Maybe a good place for this government to make an example of. No seats to lose.

Mamardoit - this is very worryin. Do you have evidence that the factory bosses are connected to the "people who run Leicester"?

If so, where does it come from and please share it on here.

Meant "worrying" - I'm not Priti Patel!

Not at all MaizieD. I was a member of UNISON trade union for over 20 years. Paid my subscription out of my salary. Proud to stand up for workers rights. One time in a dispute with the Trust management board I asked our trade union rep to bring in the outside officials. Result! Serious negotiations ensued and a fairer outcome.

This government have a minimum wage policy. Over £10 an hour. These sweat shop bosses know this.

For some reason they think they are untouchable.

So yes, throw the book at them and hit them where it hurts. Their bank accounts.