UK MPs Question Shein Over Labor Practices

During a parliamentary hearing in the U.K., lawmakers criticized Shein's general counsel, Yinan Zhu, for evading questions about the company's sourcing of cotton from China's Xinjiang region, where forced labor has been reported. The hearing, convened due to Shein's planned IPO on the London Stock Exchange, saw MPs express frustration over Zhu's repeated refusals to provide direct answers about labor practices and supply chain integrity. Chair Liam Byrne described the lack of transparency as 'bordering on contempt', highlighting concerns over Shein's labor conditions, including previous admissions of child labor in their factories. Zhu stated that she would seek permission to address these questions in writing later, maintaining that operational details were outside her remit. The hearing reflects ongoing scrutiny of fast fashion brands regarding ethical sourcing and labor rights amid allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.