UK Lawmakers Question Shein and Temu on Labor Practices

British lawmakers have summoned fast-fashion retailers Shein and Temu for a parliamentary hearing on January 7 to address concerns regarding labor practices in their supply chains. The cross-party Business and Trade Committee, chaired by Liam Byrne, is investigating the government's employment rights bill and measures to prevent the importation of goods produced under poor labor conditions. Both companies have been accused of poor working practices and forced labor in their Chinese factories, although Shein claims to have a zero-tolerance policy on forced labor. Representatives from both companies, including Shein's general counsel Yinan Zhu and Temu's senior legal counsel Stephen Heary, are expected to testify. The scrutiny comes as Shein aims for a London IPO, pending regulatory approvals. The hearing will also feature testimony from labor market enforcement officials who have previously raised concerns about Shein's practices.