Chinese fashion giant Shein is under fire for allegedly using forced labor from Uyghurs to produce its clothing. Human rights group Stop Uyghur Genocide (SUG) has submitted evidence to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) urging the regulator to block Shein from listing its shares on the London Stock Exchange. The group claims that Shein’s suppliers are linked to cotton produced in forced labor camps in the Uyghur region, pointing to a 2022 Bloomberg investigation that confirmed the use of such cotton in Shein’s products.
Rahima Mahmut, a Uyghur and prominent human rights advocate, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, stating that the use of forced labor would violate the UK’s Modern Slavery Act. “Our client wants to make sure that the UK’s capital markets aren’t used to fund the expansion of a business which has links to Uyghur forced labor,” said Ricardo Gama, a lawyer for SUG.
Shein, which has faced multiple controversies, recently admitted to finding two cases of child labor in its supply chain, leading to the suspension of the suppliers involved. Despite Shein’s claims of a “zero tolerance policy for forced labor,” human rights groups remain unconvinced, urging the UK authorities to take action.
These allegations highlight the ongoing scrutiny of China’s treatment of Uyghurs and raise critical questions about ethical practices in global supply chains .
