Sports Direct to review workers’ terms and conditions
Sports Direct founder, Mike Ashley is to oversee a review of all agency workers’ terms and conditions at the company.
The move follows criticism of the retail giant’s pay and employment practices, including the use of zero hours contracts, under which staff don’t know how many hours they will work from one week to the next.
Sports Direct was criticised by UK lawmakers in parliament on Monday and a government minister said it would face sanctions if it flouted wage laws.
“The board has agreed that Mike Ashley shall personally oversee a review of all agency worker terms and conditions to ensure the company does not just meet its legal obligations, but also provides a good environment for the entire workforce,” the company said.
Ashley will start work on the review next month.
Sports Direct also hit back at some of what it called “unfounded criticisms” it has received.
“Various parties have chosen to ignore the facts provided and have continued to present an unfair portrayal of the company’s employment practices,” it said.
The Group commenced trading as a single store in Maidenhead, founded by Mike Ashley in 1982. Currently the company operates 420 sports stores in the UK alone, the majority of which trade under the SPORTSDIRECT.com and 270 stores in 19 European countries.
