Cosmetics chain 'exploited' £2-an-hour workers

Workers at Soap and Co. are earning as little as £2.05 an hour and are made to sign up as self-employed when they should be classed as employees - according to reports. 

An undercover BBC investigation found that some staff were made to be at work for a minimum of six days per week, working up to 60 hours in that period of time.

Workers at the chain’s Westfield, Mayfair and Covent Garden sites were found to be working under the same conditions and agreement.

One employee told the BBC: “I cannot move, I’m tired, my body hurts.” Another said: “My lower back hurts. I'm smashed physically and mentally. This is not normal." Furthermore, fines were handed out if workers were caught checking their mobile phones.