Boohoo has become the latest retailer to be exposed for allegedly poor factory working conditions as part of an investigation conducted on Channel 4‘s Dispatches programme.
According to the investigation, staff members working for the online fashion retailer risked being fired for smiling or checking their mobile phones.
The investigation follows last week‘s episode of Dispatches that saw British textile firms making products for fashion retailers River Island, New Look, Missguided and Boohoo accused of paying workers less than half the National Minimum Wage.
READ MORE: JD Sports in hot water after 140 warehouse staff sent to hospital over 4 years
Last year, online fashion retailer Asos was also accused of exploitative working practises in separate investigations, along with Sports Direct and JD Sports.
The investigation on Boohoo last night suggested that contracts were able to be terminated after three strikes – often for minor infringements, such as checking the time on their mobile, showing up five minutes late for work or smiling.
Boohoo told Dispatches they don‘t operate a three strikes policy and denied the accusations.
READ MORE: Fashion retailers defend practices as MPs push on human rights violations
“We are disappointed some individuals may still refer to ‘strikes‘,” the online retailer said.
“This is not in line with our current policies.”
Boohoo added that all employees, including those working for an agency on behalf of the company, were paid at least the national minimum wage.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
