Asos retaliates after Barnsley working practices sting
FASHION giant Asos has hit back at claims that working conditions in its Barnsley warehousing facility are exploitative.
The £1.2bn turnover business has come under fire following an investigation by content creation company Buzzfeed, which criticised the working conditions and hours.
Chief executive of Asos Nick Beighton said that the allegations were “upsetting to me personally.”
The GMB union dubbed its practices “deeply exploitative” and that Asos staff are subject to “unnecessary levels” of surveillance.
This week Asos hit back in a six-page statement saying: “The picture of an uncaring, secretive and exploiting employer from Victorian times is false.”
The company said it had initially chosen the Grimethorpe site near Barnsley due to high levels of unemployment in the area and that it had invested £81m in the site since opening in 2011, with another £23m earmarked for the coming year.
It said it pays all staff above the National Living Wage and has never had zero hour working contracts.
Nick Beighton, CEO, ASOS plc said in a statement: “I’m disappointed that inaccurate and misleading things have been said about how we manage our warehouse at Barnsley in Yorkshire. We want every single person who works with ASOS directly, or for one of our partners, to have a great experience and feel respected and valued.
“Where we’ve been able, we have tried to set the record straight, but some misrepresentation continues.
Asos warehouse in Grimethorpe near Barnsley
“I take huge exception to the idea that we are secretive and exploit our people. We have nothing to hide and much to be proud of.”
The investigation came in the wake of allegations of poor working practices at Sports Direct’s Shirebrook facility in Derbyshire. Both are provided with temporary staff by Brighouse-based recruitment firm Transline.
