Sports Direct to publish independent report on working conditions before AGM

Retailer Sports Direct has commissioned an independent report into its working conditions, which it will publish early next month.

The report, which is being carried out by law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC), will be published on 5 September, ahead of the company’s annual shareholder meeting on 7 September.

Sports Direct called for the internal investigation in December 2015 amid allegations of poor working conditions for warehouse staff on zero hours contracts and paying less than the minimum wage.

In July, a committee of MPs compared the retailer’s employment practices and conditions to a “Victorian workhouse”.

Sports Direct said it will also hold an external evaluation of its board of directors by April 2017.

At the shareholder meeting the company is also facing a revolt over re-appointing chairman Keith Hellawell. At last year’s meeting about 24% of of shareholders voted against Hellawell. A rule change now means he needs investor support rather than the support of Mike Ashley, the company's founder and largest shareholder.

Shares in Sports Direct International were down 1.03% to 293p at 1513 BST on Thursday.