We have heard a lot in the media recently about migrants fleeing their countries and seeking refuge in the UK and Europe in general. Whilst we are not going to get in a heavy political debate about whether we should allow them to be here or not, an article from Insider Media is an example as to how illegal immigrants can have a negative effect to the UK manufacturing industry.
It was revealed last week that a British clothing manufacturer based in the East Midlands has had to close following reports that found they had been employing illegal workers. The head of the company has been banned from acting as the director of a company for seven years after this information was acquired. Insider Media point out that it was an expensive mistake to make for the company in question – ‘AJ Design went into liquidation owing £270,600 to creditors, which included a £255,000 fine imposed by Home Office Immigration and Enforcement for employing illegal workers.’ Sue MacLeod, the Insolvency Service’s chief investigator of insolvent investigations in the Midlands and west region commented, “those who employ them defraud the taxpayer and undercut honest competitors. This should serve as a warning to other directors who may feel tempted to break the law.”
It is important that all companies working in British manufacture abide by the same rules so our industry does not get fractured. There is an essence of trust that is vital in building relationships with clients and customers but it is reports such as these that affect that trust and the reputation of UK Manufacturing. It is true that while this hasn’t been a regular occurrence in the UK, we are not completely void of these problems in the industry. However, companies such as Bridge & Stitch work to reduce these problems through building strong relationships with our factories and ensure that certain standards are met within the factories that we use. Now that we have built up these strong relationships through years of business, we are able to continually monitor our factories, have inspections and check the standards of working conditions on a regular basis to minimise the risks.
We think it’s important to be aware of the problems but to know that this is associated with a small minority of companies. Our industry benefits from thousands of migrants coming to the UK and working legally within the clothing industry helping to reduce the skills gap we are currently facing. Furthermore, you can have confidence that we, along with many other UK clothing manufacturers, can provide professional services for you by people you can trust.
