MPs blast Shein exec for refusing to say whether its clothes are linked to slave labour

MPs accused a Shein executive of being ‘disrespectful’ and ‘ridiculous’ after she refused to say whether its cheap clothes are linked to slave labour.

The fast fashion giant’s top UK lawyer was yesterday unable to confirm whether there is cotton from China, or specifically the Xinjiang region, in the items it sells.

The hearing in Parliament came after Shein’s planned £50billion London stock market listing was delayed as campaigners complain about allegations of abuse in its supply chain.

Human rights groups have accused China of slave labour in Xingang, where they say Uyghurs – a mostly-Muslim ethnic group – are forced to produce cotton. Beijing has denied the allegations.

Shein’s UK general counsel yesterday declined to comment on whether the company believes there is slavery happening in the region, prompting an angry outburst from MPs on the Business Select Committee.

‘I don’t think you’re respecting the committee at all,’ Charlie Maynard MP said.

‘We have asked you very simple questions and you’re not giving straight answers.’

In heated exchanges, Yinan Zhu, a senior lawyer for the fast-fashion retailer, said: ‘I am only able to comment on questions related to our business.’

Asked multiple times about its supply chain, Zhu admitted that the online retailer uses manufacturers in China, Brazil and Turkey.

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