“NO FORCED LABOUR”
Like other major players in the textile sector, Shein has come in for regular allegations of exploiting members of the Uighur minority in the cotton fields and factories of western Chinese province Xinjiang.
“The policy is zero tolerance” on forced labour, Tang told AFP. “We don’t tolerate it at all, no questions asked”.
He added that the company had a code of conduct “totally, 100 per cent aligned with the International Labour Organization Convention” that it required suppliers to sign.
And once deals are in place, “we have international renowned auditors come into the factories with unannounced visits,” Tang said.
David Hachfeld of campaign group Public Eye, which has published an investigation into Shein, said the group’s measures had not been enough.
“In manufacturing, 75 hours a week was typical for most workers,” Hachfeld said, with “one and a half free days per month”.
