On 27th March Fashion Enter CEO Jenny Holloway delivered the first of a series of workshops and training with the local garment manufacturers in Leicester to improve their productivity and efficiency.
In partnership with LLEP (Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership) the first workshop was entitled Improving Profitability and its aim was to prepare manufacturers to improve business profitability through efficiency in processes, improving productivity, effective use of resources and accurate costings.
The three hour workshop however took an interesting turn which culminated in Jenny giving her word that she would personally contact the ETI Ethical Trading Initiative with concerns raised by the manufactures. The letter has now been compiled and sent to the Executive Director, Peter McAllister.
Here is an excerpt –
‘Concerns were voiced which you need to be aware of. Your mission aim and vision is a world where all workers are free from exploitation and discrimination, and enjoy conditions of freedom, security and equity, however in all legally binding transactions for the Sale of Goods there are two parties and the ETI must not discriminate against the smaller SME.
You state in your reference that you uphold time and a half overtime pay for the workers in factories. With new current minimum rates that is nearly £12 per hour. Do you not think manufacturers would like to pay those rates if they had the margin to pay? Are you going to impose on the retailers that they will pay the manufacturer that increase in the cost price?
There has been so much negativity regarding the manufacturers paying less than the minimum wage but have you even investigated why? Have you been to review the cost prices given to these factories by certain retailers and etailers? Any person in the industry would know that these cost prices are totally unobtainable.’
To review the complete letter please click here.
We will keep you fully updated on the progression of this communication.