Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services submits a report updating the Commission on Leicester’s Textile Sector.

Members of the Commission are recommended to receive the presentation and pass any comments to the Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services and the Director of Tourism, Culture and Investment submitted a report and presentation updating the Commission on Leicester’s textile sector.

The Chair invited additional Members to the Commission participating for this item to introduce themselves.

The Deputy City Mayor for Environment and Transportation introduced the item and noted that the publication of the 2019/20 annual review of the Leicester Labour Market Partnership had also been incorporated. It was noted that the council were in a long-standing role in supporting the textile industry and intervening when allegations into exploitation had arisen and the results from 2019/20 was a testament to the ongoing work prior to then. Concerns were raised last summer with two issues that have hindered the work, the use of the word slavery and the pandemic impacting market issues within the textile sector.

The Assistant City Mayor for Jobs, Skills, Policy Delivery and Communications introduced the Fashion Technology Academy as an example of the approach to economic recovery that will help drive the sustainable regeneration of the textile sector. 

The Director for Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services, the Head of Community Safety and Protection, the Head of Enforcement from Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), the Head of Economic Regeneration and the Chief Executive of Fashion Enter, delivered the presentation updating on work to support Leicester’s Textile Sector . As part of the discussions it was noted that:

·         There was a very specific, legal definition of Modern Slavery and what was going on in the city did not meet that definition. However, there were still issues in the market within the city with concerns of labour abuse and exploitation.

·         Data was being collected to provide analytical information including the number of engagements with individuals being collected by the Community Safety Labour Market Coordinator was collecting to bring forward to future Commissions.

·         Work was ongoing with the trade unions to ensure workers felt supported and had a voice. Information on definitions of Modern Slavery was available on the government website and issues arising with minimum wage had been referred onto HMRC.

·         The Fashion Technology Academy lease runs for 2½ years and enabled the delivery of a pilot training initiative.  This included delivery of Levels 1 to 5 qualifications in garment skills, Level 2 to 4 level apprenticeships, a Level 1 course in Worker’s Rights and Labour Exploitation, and ESOL and employability courses delivered by the Council’s Adult Learning Service.

·         Members suggested that a date should be arranged to visit the site for interested Members.

·         Updated work to assess the size of Leicester’s textiles sector had been commissioned by the LLEP. It was suggested there were at least 600 and potentially up to 1000 textile factories within the city.

·         The GLAA were aware that the issues from last summer were not unique to Leicester or the textile industry and there were similarities within other industries nationally.

·         There was a licensing scheme proposal from the British Retail Consortium along with another separate proposal to establish a Garment Sector Adjudicator.

·         Members of the Commission shared their concerns with the environmental impact the fast fashion industry has on the climate and the alleged accusations on the big companies worldwide. It was noted that the Council were in an intervening role to try and improve the sector for the benefit of the city and its residents.

·         The GLAA had experience and arrangements with other agencies to support provide support for the vulnerable and exploited workers. Although the investigations may have not met the threshold for modern slavery, there were still other areas the GLAA could impact on. It was suggested that once the GLAA had completed its work in Leicester, there would be some prosecutions for other offences the GLAA investigate.

·         Recruitment for the Fashion Technology Academy would be with other partner organisations and ESOL delivery was being incorporated into the programme. Exploring the options available for people who were entitled to the funding for the ESOL programme and how it can be accessed and support for those who were not eligible. A training session for ESOL tutors was being organised to look at recognising the signs and symptoms of modern slavery or exploitation.

·         The Building Control Team did intervene when required to do so for inspections on buildings, but the development of grant funding would encourage companies to reinvest and improve. Lobbying government for additional investment for the sector would be an opportunity for companies to innovate and be more productive.

·         Homeworkers were frowned upon within the industry as it was very difficult to control aspects such as right to work, safety and product quality. Homeworkers would be encouraged to access support from the Fashion Technology Academy.

AGREED:

1)    Members of the Commission thanked those involved in the progressive work over the last few years and;

2)      That the Head of Community Safety and Protection be requested to provide information on the number of people that have approached CrimeStoppers.