While the company said that the cases were "resolved swiftly," there are continued concerns about the industry where child labor is concerned. Shein, founded in China but now based in Singapore, "has been criticised for using suppliers who exploit low-paid workers in China to sell its clothes at knockdown prices," Business Plus reports. The company also doesn't pay customs taxes as the merchandise is shipped directly to consumers from Asia.
Just two years ago, TikTok videos allegedly showed "different messages written or stitched onto labels of Shein clothing tags." Some of these videos read "Help Me" and "SOS" and "I have dental pain." Snopes apparently said that the phrasing "need your help" is "an awkwardly worded translation of washing instructions for the garment."
A petition to "say no" to Shein has over 43,000 signatures. Launched by fashion activist Venetia La Manna and writer Grace Blakeley, the campaign calls on the "UK Government to intervene to block Shein's application to list on the London Stock Exchange, pending a thorough investigation into Shein’s labour practices, environmental impact and tax arrangements." Many workers in Shein factories work 75-hour weeks.
"If the investigation finds that Shein is violating international agreements on labour rights, making use of forced labour, or avoiding tax, the company’s IPO application must be rejected. Furthermore, we demand that the UK Government introduce legislation enforcing mandatory social and environmental due diligence for corporations," reads the campaign, backed by "Queen of the Shops" Mary Portas.
The petition further notes that "US lawmakers already rejected Shein's attempt to list on the New York Stock Exchange over alleged labour malpractice and tax avoidance. We must not let them sneak in and make millions on Britain’s financial markets - not while they stand accused of horrendous exploitation of people and the planet." This rejection came after backlash from the US National Retail Federation.
