Retail Company suspected of subjecting workers to slavery like conditions and obtaining staff for compulsory labour.

 

Mike Ashley, owner of Newcastle United, is amongst the 10 richest people in Britain worth approximately £3.5bn, but is he also the charge man of a ‘modern slavery’ sporting retail giant?

Channel 4 launched an investigation into the 4.5bn company in April that revealed concerning information regarding working conditions in the Sports Direct warehouse, Shirebrook, Derbyshire. Employees, who are mostly made up of agency workers hailing from Eastern Europe, spoke of how they are in fear of losing their jobs on a daily basis.

Employees are subjected to a ‘six strike’ rule where if the sixth strike is reached they would be dismissed. These strikes could be obtained through a variety of 36 shocking minor infringements including talking, spending too long in the toilet, taking time off sick and even failing to have a clipboard and pen on their person at all times. They also take to public shaming, announcing by name the people who they think aren’t working hard enough over the tannoy. Workers would work through their lunch breaks, avoid going to the lavatory and come in when severely ill purely to avoid the possibility of receiving a strike against their name.

 

In response to this investigation, Sports Direct defended the accusations claiming it takes 24 strikes before an employee’s contract is terminated and in a statement to Reuters said "Sports Direct aims to provide working conditions in compliance with applicable employment and health and safety legislation and seeks to provide safe working conditions for all staff working in our warehouse".

 

Sports Direct.com is well known for fast 24/7 delivery and cheap sport wear and trainers. The company has been under the magnifying glass many times before for unorthodox practices and alleged poor circumstances for workers. From protests of the abolishment of zero hour contracts to a female employee giving birth in the toilets the company seems far from innocent.

A BBC documentary aired on October 5th reopening the investigation and showing fresh allegations. After calling for freedom of information, it was discovered that the warehouse had an unusual amount of ambulance call outs to their Shirebrook warehouse, reaching a number that exceeded 80 times in two years. ‘Life threatening reasons’ made up 36 of the calls such as chest pains, breathing problems, convulsions and strokes.

 

Despite this, it was still denied that they operated ‘Dickensian’ practices. However, a Nottingham Crown Court heard on October 8th that Dariusz Parczewski (46) and wife, Bozena Parczewski (45) ‘provided persons to perform forced or compulsory labour’ to Sports direct. This investigation of the two people in question has been ongoing for two years. After appearing in the stand side by side a trial date was fixed with proceedings set to begin early next year. They were both bailed and due to reappear in court January 8th 2016. In this scenario Sports direct has not been accused of any wrong doing and do not stand trial.