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The Morning Star 2026 Conference
Who will compensate and protect workers in Leicester’s garment industry?
Despite the extended media focus, as the year draws to a close, the central questions remain unanswered when it comes to vulnerable and exploited workers, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE

THIS year has been exceptionally difficult for us all. My city of Leicester has had it particularly tough for two key reasons. 

We have faced coronavirus restrictions for longer than any other area, which includes not been able to visit each other’s home indoors since the start of the first national lockdown in March 2020 and we have also faced an overdue yet painful resurgence of attention on the scandal in our garment industry. 

Exploitation in Leicester’s garment industry has been an “open secret” and widely reported and studied for at least a decade, yet successive conservative governments have failed to act. 

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