Glasgow-based Quiz suspends supplier amid claims workers were paid £3 an hour

Glasgow -based clothes firm Quiz has suspended activity with its supplier amid claims that its workers are being paid as little as £3 an hour.

The high street retailer, which has almost 30 branches in Scotland, is investigating the claims that were made in a national newspaper over the weekend.

An undercover worker revealed in the Times on Saturday they were offered £3 an hour, despite the legal ‘living wage’ standing at £8.72 for someone over the age of 25.

Bosses at Quiz are believed to be “extremely concerned” over the allegations that the sub-contractor in a Leicester factory is paying well below the minimum wage, reports Wales Online.

Quiz said it's looking into the case (UGC)

Early investigations carried out by the firm, whose headquarters is based in Glasgow, indicates that the supplier used a sub-contractor without authorisation.

It follows a similar scandal at fashion brand Boohoo, which appointed a QC to investigate the allegations last week.

Quiz chief executive Tarak Ramzan said: “We are extremely concerned and disappointed to be informed of the alleged breach of national living wage requirements in a factory making Quiz products.

“The alleged breaches to both the law and Quiz’s ethical code of practice are totally unacceptable.

“We are thoroughly investigating this incident and will also conduct a fuller review of our supplier auditing processes to ensure that they are robust. We will update our stakeholders in due course.”

A statement from Quiz added: “From our initial review, we believe that one of Quiz’s suppliers based in Leicester has used a subcontractor in direct contravention of a previous instruction from Quiz.

“It is this subcontractor that is subject of the national living wage complaint. Quiz has immediately suspended activity with the supplier in question pending further investigation.”

Quiz said it “is very grateful to the press for highlighting these alleged breaches.”

The clothing chain runs more than 70 of its own stores across the UK, and has 174 concessions at department stores such as Debenhams.

It employs more than 1,500 people in the UK and Ireland.