A British parliamentary committee will investigate the 2008-founded fast-fashion online retailer Shein about workers’ rights in its supply chain during a hearing on January 7 in the UK. Shein hopes to list in London.
The cross-party Business and Trade Committee will also investigate Temu as part of an investigation into employment rights that began in October. This international online marketplace is owned by the Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings.
Under the direction of former Labour minister Liam Byrne, the committee is examining the government’s flagship employment rights bill in light of British workers’ rights. It also investigates ways to guarantee sufficient safeguards against the importation of substandard labor standards, especially issues related to forced labor.
According to an update on the committee website, Yinan Zhu, Shein’s general counsel for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), has been invited as a witness.
Leonard Klenner, Temu’s senior compliance manager, and Stephen Heary, the organization’s senior legal counsel, are also called to testify.
Regarding the hearing, Shein chose not to remark. Temu did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Both websites, which offer incredibly low prices for clothing, shoes, electronics, and accessories, have come under fire for allegedly using forced labor in their supply chains and unethical working conditions in Chinese factories that produce the goods.
Shein has stated in the past that it supports human rights and has a zero-tolerance policy for forced labor. Additionally, Temu has said that forced labor is forbidden.
Originally from China, Shein’s headquarters are currently in Singapore.
After filing documents with Britain’s market regulator in early June, the company, which has experienced rapid growth in the US, Europe, and the UK, is awaiting regulatory approval from Chinese and British authorities for a London initial public offering.
Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons, who voiced concerns about Shein’s London IPO last year, and Margaret Beels, director of labor market compliance at the Department for Business and Trade, were also invited to appear at the hearing.
Additionally, Claire Lorains, the quality technical and sustainability director of grocery chain Tesco, and Alistair Macrow, the CEO of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, were called to testify orally.
