Mike Ashley's Sports Direct defends use of casual labour

Sports Direct International, the retailer controlled by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, defended its treatment of workers yesterday after a newspaper report said that security checks of staff left some earning less than legal levels.

The issue of lengthy security checks for agency workers at its warehouse in Shirebrook, central England, being undertaken in unpaid rather than paid time, was raised at the group’s September shareholder meeting and was the subject of an investigation by the Guardian newspaper.

Sports Direct said the process had been streamlined to reduce waiting times.