The Government has “significant concerns” about clothing factories in Leicester opening behind closed doors and won’t hesitate to shut them down if they break the rules, Matt Hancock has said.
The Health Secretary said the Government was monitoring concerns about employment practices at the factories, amid reports one paid its staff less than the minimum wage and not enforcing social distancing.
“We have the authority to shut down businesses if they don’t follow the guidance,” he said.
“We’re not just asking nicely.”
The Health Secretary added businesses could face “very significant fines” if employment laws and Government workplace safety guidance were found to have been breached.
His comments come after Leicester was placed into a localised lockdown, with an infection rate three times higher than the next highest city in the UK.
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