Miserly spirit found in Christmas crackers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Homeworkers in Britain are paid between 1p and 2p for making a Christmas cracker which sells in the shops for anything up to pounds 2.50.
Boots the chemist is supplied by homeworker "sub-contractors" who earn just over 2p, while workers contracted to Fine Art Developments, which supplies many high-street retailers, receive around 1.5p. The National Group on Homeworking estimates that some people are paid much less than 1p.
Ian McCartney, Labour's employment spokesman, described the work as "slave labour", adding: "Scrooge [still] exists."
Denise McKenna, acting co-ordinator of the group, said that the pay of homeworkers who supplied Boots was at the top of the range: "Many are paid far less... If you are desperate you will work for virtually nothing."
A spokeswoman for Boots pointed out that the retail price included materials, transport and retail costs. Jayne Mayled, head of customer services at the company, insisted in a letter to Mr McCartney that the flexibility offered to workers was often very attractive to those with family responsibilities.
She said typical earnings per week ranged from pounds 25 to pounds 166, with one worker earning pounds 221 - but it should be emphasised that each home-worker could decide how much he or she wished to undertake.
A spokesman for Fine Art Developments said trials had shown that homeworkers were capable of earning pounds 6 an hour.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments