appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

CNBC

U.K. retail tycoon Mike Ashley has admitted to British politicians that workers at his company's warehouse are paid less than the country's minimum wage.
The founder of sportswear chain Sports Direct and owner of Newcastle City soccer team, sat down in front of the U.K. Parliament's Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee to answer allegations that lengthy and unpaid security searches of staff had pushed earnings below a legal level.
Ashley had initially refused to appear before the committee, but reversed his decision, stating in a letter to Iain Wright, chair of the business select committee that he "had nothing to hide".
An undercover report by The Guardian in December claimed workers each day had to roll up their trouser legs and show the top of their underwear to prove they weren't stealing.
When quizzed, Ashley admitted that due to lengthy security searches staff were in effect receiving less than minimum wage.
"On that specific point, for that specific day, yes", he told the committee.
When asked if staff were now getting paid for the searches, Ashley said no but that staff were no longer being held up at the end of the day.
Ashley said he believed workers were no longer being fined for being a minute late, but he was 'terrified' that he may have got claims wrong.
One aspect under investigation by the committee is whether the company's Tannoy system was used to harangue employees. Ashley told lawmakers that he would accept punishment for any misuse.
"If we are abusing it, then Sports Direct deserves the cane, like any other company deserves the cane."
According to Sports Direct's 2015 annual report, group revenue was up 4.7 per cent year on year to £2.8 billion (US$4 billion) with pre-tax profit up 30.9 per cent to £313 million (US$455 million). The company has 661 stores worldwide and a staff turnover rate of about 19 per cent.
The billionaire took many opportunities to stress the size of the Sports Direct and how difficult it has been to keep an eye on all aspects of the business as it grew.
"One minute I had a tiny little inflatable and you're in control and the next minute you are on an oil tanker".
Earlier in the hearing, Ashley's company was also accused of putting people's health at risk by employing a "six strikes and you're sacked" rule.
Regional Unite officer Union Luke Primarolo said people were issued with "strikes" if they reported in sick and were therefore coming in to work when they should be at home.
Primarolo said Unite found there increased health and pregnancy problems, including one worker who had to give birth in the Sports Direct toilets.
'Zero-hours' contracts have caused concern in the United Kingdom as there is no obligation for employers to offer work on a regular basis.
And Steven Turner, assistant general secretary of the Unite Union say the business model of Sports Direct relied heavily on zero hour and short term contracts.
"Some 79 per cent of all Sports Direct store employees are employed on zero hours contracts. This is a business model that has exploitation at the very heart of it," he said.
Turner said Sports Direct's business model is one typical of the retail and hospitality industries but is now creeping in to other sectors such as transport and manufacturing.
On Unite union concerns about the company's practices, Ashley said he could do better job for workers than unions.


US Pentagon signs AI deals with Google, Nvidia and SpaceX, focus on ‘lawful’ use

Singapore’s Balakrishnan warns Hormuz just a ‘dry run’ if US, China clash

Trump extends Iran ceasefire, claims interception of ‘gift from China’

Iran’s new supreme leader defies Trump, says Hormuz must stay blocked

Top British retailer admits paying staff less than minimum wage

"One minute I had a tiny little inflatable and you're in control and the next minute you are on an oil tanker" said Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley when describing the difficulty in staying on top of his growing business. Photo: Getty Images

Business

Companies

Sportswear chain founder admits staff aren't paid for lengthy security searches to prevent stealing


Articles imported from external feeds - eg Associated Press


Feed

Top British retailer admits paying staff less than minimum wage

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Sportswear chain founder admits staff aren't paid for lengthy security searches to prevent stealing

Sportswear chain founder admits staff aren't paid for lengthy security searches to prevent stealing