Shein Faces Stringent Questions Over Uyghur Labour Allegations in UK Parliament

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British MPs have expressed concerns over the fashion retailer Shein’s supply chain practices amid allegations linking its cotton products to forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region. During a recent session of the business and trade committee, Yinan Zhu, Shein's senior legal counsel, was unable to provide clear assurances that the company does not source cotton from suppliers associated with the controversial practices.

Zhu indicated that she was not qualified to answer specific questions surrounding the company's production sources and the practices of its subcontractors. This has prompted accusations of "wilful ignorance" from MPs, including Charlie Maynard, who criticized her lack of concrete answers and described the responses as disrespectful.

Shein, which plans to list on the London Stock Exchange this year with an estimated valuation of £50 billion, maintains that it complies with UK laws, including modern slavery regulations. However, Zhu could not confirm whether there are explicit bans against sourcing from Xinjiang in the company’s supplier audits, raising further concerns among lawmakers.

Liam Byrne, chair of the committee, expressed disappointment over the scant information provided by Shein and stated that MPs had received "almost zero confidence" regarding the welfare of workers within the company’s supply chain. In contrast, a representative from rival online marketplace Temu claimed they prohibit sellers associated with the Xinjiang region.

The scrutiny of Shein comes at a time when the company seeks to expand its market presence while addressing human rights issues linked to its supply chain operations.

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