UK Government to Introduce Watchdog to Stamp Out Modern Slavery in the Country's Manufacturing Sector

The UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has just announced plans to create a single workers’ rights watchdog to stamp out modern slavery scandals in UK manufacturing.
 
The yet-to-be-named entity will enforce minimum wages, protect workers, and seek to wipe out modern slavery from these shores. It will name and shame #manufacturing firms that continue to abuse wage laws, also levering fines to hold abusing companies accountable.
 
Back in July of last year, news broke that highly profitable #fashion company Boohoo was having garments supplied from Leicester factories where workers were being paid as little as £3.50 per hour. 
 
At the time, Conservative Chair of the #Environmental Audit Committee Philip Dunne MP said in a letter to Boohoo founders Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane that it was “incredible” for Boohoo to claim it was surprised by the subsequent allegations of modern slavery.
 
He went on to write, in relation to the Boohoo #business, “It is shameful that it took a pandemic and the ensuing outrage about working practices in their supply chain for Boohoo finally to be taken to task for turning a blind eye.”
 
One could argue that it is shameful also that it took the Boohoo scandal for not only the current UK Government but also previous Tory and Labour governments to address what has been an “understood” element of the UK’s fashion #supplychain for decades. 
 
Still, quoting Mahatma Ghandi, “The #future depends on what we do in the present.” One can take solace. #Societal improvements will be the outcome from these measures and does support the build toward a #sustainable future. Rejoice in the fact that there is, finally, action ensuing.