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ASOS questioned by Labour Party

12 August 2016

By Nicole

ASOS, retail giant and every online shopper’s favourite online clothing superstore, has recently come under close scrutiny by none other than the UK Labour party! Owen Smith, candidate for UK opposition Labour party leadership, has called for an enquiry into the online superstore’s working practices after his talks with unions left him with a sneaky suspicion that ASOS might be “the new Sports Direct.”

Smith pressed for an enquiry into the online retailer which stocks everything you can possibly think of in terms of clothes, shoes and accessories. His letter to Ian Wright, head of Parliament’s Business Committee, insisted on an enquiry into ASOS over concerns about working conditions at ASOS’s distribution centre located in Barnsley.

After his meeting with GMB union, the Labour leader candidate was left “appalled” at the reported working conditions for staff at the distribution centre. The union claimed that the staff are not permitted to use toilet facilities freely, and also face random searches during breaks and invasive supervision. It was also said that at some points staff turn up for work only to be told that they have not been allocated a shift on that day.

ASOS have responded by arguing that such allegations were unfair and unfounded considering that Smith has not yet even visited the Barnsley Warehouse. In an email, the company stated: “People can take toilet and water breaks whenever they want, and we pay above minimum wage.”

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