Abuse uncovered at Bangladesh factory with links to UK brand

More than 1,100 people werekilled and more than 2,500 injured after the eight-storey Rana Plaza factory building near Dhaka, Bangladesh collapsed on 24th April last year.

A government investigation found that poor quality construction materials and building code violations were among the "series of irregularities" that caused the collapse inthe factory which was linked to several high street names in the UK.

Background: Rana Plaza factory collapse

At least 112 people were killed when a fire swept through a garment factory on the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital in November last year.

Read more: Bangladesh fire leaves 112 dead

Watch Exposure: Fashion Factories Undercover ITV 10.35pm

One of the undercover workers filming in a factory in Bangladesh finds that the fire exit on her floor is padlocked.

The following morning 'Laboni' finds the door still locked: "Look this is locked. If this factory were to catch fire then will we be able to escape?"

Watch Exposure: Fashion Factories Undercover ITV 10.35pm

This is a particular worry after at least 112 people were killed when a fire swept through the Tazreen garment factory in Dhaka.

Read more: Bangladesh fire leaves 112 dead

Secret filming in a factory shows physical and verbal abuse aimed at a young girl. The girl, who says she is 14-years-old is stopped by the shift supervisor from getting water, moments later he yells at the girl for failing to cut all the loose thread from a pair of jeans.

Jeans with Lee Cooper labels were seen inside the factory.

This video contains footage of a young girl being verbally and physically abused:

Read: Lee Cooper: 'We employ a strict set of rules'

Watch Exposure: Fashion Factories Undercover ITV 10.35pm

Shirts with labels which matched those found stored in a factory in Bangladesh were found for sale in a BHS store in London's Oxford Street.

Arcadia Group, who own BHS, were told that their shirts were found stored in the Vase Apparels factory and of the conditions seen there where a fire door was padlocked shut.They said:

• Watch Exposure: Fashion Factories Undercover ITV 10.35pm

LeeCooper declined to be interviewed by Exposure and company executives rejected an offer to view the footage gathered during the investigation.

In a brief statement they said:

“We employ a strict set of rules to ensure our licensees source responsibly and can confirm that this production is either counterfeit or unauthorised.

"We will take all steps to eliminate the unlawful production of Lee Cooper branded products.”

Watch Exposure: Fashion Factories Undercover ITV 10.35pm

Southbay labels from the Vase Apparels factory were matched with shirts purchased from JD Williams outlets, Premier Man and Jacamo, in the UK.

In a statement N Brown Group, which owns JD Williams, told Exposure it was a “…caring, ethical company” which strongly believes anyone making its clothes has the right to a “fair wage and decent, safe working conditions.”

It said the conditions identified at Vase are “illegal and morally reprehensible” and added it was “shocked and disappointed” that some of their shirts had been sourced from the factory.

The company said it would work hard to improve conditions in Bangladesh and will never knowingly buy from factories which don’t meet their “…own high standards and those laid down by the ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative).“

N Brown also said it had sacked its supplier Basic Shirts and fined its agent and would donate the money to a Rana Plaza victims’ fund.

Watch Exposure: Fashion Factories Undercover ITV 10.35pm

Less than a year after one of the world’s deadliest industrial disasters an undercover investigation by ITV's Exposure has gathered footage showing dangerously unsafe and inhumane conditions in factories in the Bangladeshi capital.

Workers, including young girls, were filmed being verbally and physically abused at one of the factories, where jeans with Lee Cooper labels where filmed.

Watch Exposure: Fashion Factories Undercover ITV 10.35pm

In a second factory which has links to UK clothing brands, BHS and Jacamo secret filming revealed a fire exit had been padlocked shut and coaching employees to lie about safety and training.

At least 1,130 people died the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka in April 2012.

Read: Lee Cooper - 'We employ a strict set of rules'

Workers are being coached by managers to lie to auditors when they inspect a factory and in secret filming evidence was seen that workers said they were forced to sign a register to record that they had completed non-existent safety training.

During one shift at Vase, a factory official asks workers to sign a register to record they had completed certain training courses.

But one worker is told this system is also being abused during undercover filming as the worker who signs has received no training.

Watch Exposure: Fashion Factories Undercover ITV 10.35pm