Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley accountable for ‘appalling’ work conditions, says damning report

Business Select Committee says it has been presented with a ‘disturbing picture’ of work practices ‘closer to that of a Victorian workhouse than that of a modern, reputable High Street retailer’

Alan Jones
Friday 22 July 2016 00:07 BST
Comments
An Influx of low-paid workers to Derbyshire, where Sports Direct employs thousands of workers, has led to dangerous living conditions
An Influx of low-paid workers to Derbyshire, where Sports Direct employs thousands of workers, has led to dangerous living conditions

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 Business Select Committee 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 Connection and Transline, which employ staff for Sports Direct, was “woefully poor” and in some cases incorrect.

The committee said it was “deliberately mislead” 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.

“For this to occur in the UK in 2016 is a serious indictment of the management at Sports Direct.”

Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley appearing before ministers last month

Committee chairman Iain Wright (Labour, Hartlepool), said: “The evidence we heard points to a business whose working practices are closer to that of a Victorian workhouse than that of a modern, reputable High Street retailer.

“For this to occur in the UK in 2016 is a serious indictment of the management at Sports Direct and Mike Ashley, as the face of Sports Direct, must be held accountable for these failings.

“It's seems incredible that Mike Ashley, who visits the Shirebrook warehouse at least once a week, was unaware of these appalling practices.

“This suggests Mr Ashley was turning a blind eye to conditions at Sports Direct in the interests of maximising profits or that there are serious corporate governance failings which left him out of the loop in spite of all the evidence.

“This model has proved successful for Mr Ashley and there is a risk this will become much more the norm in Britain.

“A modern and developed economy focused on innovation and supporting entrepreneurialism and enterprise cannot be allowed to operate like this.

“We were also disgusted at the poor evidence given by the agency companies, who deduct money from low-paid workers without proper explanation and justification.”

Mr Wright told the Press Association he welcomed moves by Mr Ashley to engage with the Unite union, adding he was determined to continue checking on progress made in improving conditions for the workers.

The MPs said it was “irresponsible, if not reckless”, for Sports Direct to give the two employment agencies £50 million when they did not seem to have a basic understanding of employment law.

The MPs said they would visit Shirebrook, called for a review of health and safety in the warehouse, and said the Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority should look into employment practices.

A Government spokesman said: “This report details some extremely concerning findings. Everybody deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and the law is clear that pay must be fair no matter who you are or what you do.”

A spokesman for Sports Direct said: “We will study the contents of the committee's report very carefully. It is our policy to treat all our people with dignity and respect.

“We are pleased to see that the committee has recognised Mike Ashley's commitment to engage in addressing any shortcomings in the working practices at Sports Direct.”

Steve Turner, Unite's assistant general secretary, said: “This has been a long and difficult journey but finally we are getting closer to justice and decent treatment for the Sports Direct workers.

“The scale of the abuse we found was shocking, even to this union. Ordinary decent people were being ripped off left, right and centre for hundreds of pounds. This was pay packet robbery on an industrial scale. On top of that a culture of fear oppressed these workers into silence - one word out of line would have seen them lose their jobs for sure.”

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in