A free advice and support service for all garment, textile and fashion-workers in Leicester has launched called the Fashion-workers Advice Bureau Leicester (FAB-L), formerly known as L-GWASP (Leicester Garment Workers Advice and Support Project).

In response to the garment factory related issues in Leicester which were highlighted by the media last year; a very wide range of national agencies (including brands, unions, NGOs, regulatory bodies, community groups and local councils) known as the Apparel and General Merchandising Public/Private Protocol (AGM-PPP) was formed to provide an effective platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration and for a coordinated approach to achieving improvements in working conditions in their UK supply chains, and their first priority action was to agree setting up FAB-L.

Over and above the widely reported issues of low/under-payment, poor health and safety work conditions, reports and surveys have come back showing many workers in the factories did not have basic access to welfare and benefits advice, many are having to pay people to read simple letters and fill out forms. Many have also complained of poor living conditions and overcrowding, with no clear support available to them.

FAB-L is aiming to change this and make a positive impact on the lives of the workers by offering them all the free advice and support services listed below:

• Workers Rights & Employment Law
• Health & Safety, & Injuries at Work
• Benefits Advice & Welfare Advice
• Form Filling & Letter Writing
• Housing & Living Conditions
• Immigration & Legal Advice
• Financial Hardship Support
• Courses & Training
• Domestic Violence & Harassment

The service has access to interpretation and translation services, and can offer support over the phone or face to face.

If you come across any fashion/garment/textile factory workers who need any advice, help or support, please refer them to the Fashion-workers Advice Bureau Leicester and the contact details are as follows:

FAB-L, Highfields Centre, 96 Melbourne Road, Leicester, LE2 0DS

TEL: 0116 253 1053

Mobile: 07935 841920

Email: info@highfieldscentre.ac.uk