Human Rights Violations
Shein has not publicly disclosed workers' wages or hours. In August 2021, it was reported that Shein has yet to disclose information about its working conditions and supply chain to the British government, which the company is required to do under UK law. Shein had also previously falsely stated on its website that its factories were certified by international labor standard bodies (vox).
According to SHEIN's Supply Chain Transparency Statement, they "have a clear and strong policy against modern slavery, forced labor, and human trafficking. [They] have implemented a Supply Chain Code of Conduct to which suppliers and manufacturers must agree... [They] are working to continuously improve [their] current supplier monitoring programs and advance key initiatives such as environmental and social responsibility."
SHEIN has shown little transparency about the manufacturing conditions of its labor force. To me, it is obvious that the company does not care about the labor force as long as they are profiting. The Code of Conduct that Shein's suppliers and manufacturers agree to is only as good as the reinforcement of these policies. Shein's demand for a fast turnout of their products puts a lot of pressure and stress on manufacturing laborers. The fact that laborers are paid per item of clothing encourages them to work long hours.
Environmental Issues
Currently, there is no official research that fully summarizes fashion's environmental impact. The production of synthetic fabrics like polyester emitted about 706 billion kg of greenhouse gases in 2015. Most of the clothes that SHEIN produces are made from synthetic fabrics, which are responsible for contributing to the increasing amounts of plastic microfibers found in the oceans. SHEIN's sustainability and social impact page claim that the brand believes that "reducing supply chain waste and investing in modern production techniques are key starting points to building an environmentally sustainable industry." Furthermore, it claims that the company attempts to reduce the possibility of production waste and they sell unsold or returned inventory at wholesale pricing before donating it to populations in need. The company also states that they have invested in more expensive "thermal digital transfer and digital direct printing technologies" to reduce the amount of water use throughout the production process of SHEIN products.
This is a step in the right direction but SHEIN must do more for the environment. Their sustainability and social impact page only address what happens to their products in the production and manufacturing phase. In order to be more sustainable, clothing brands should assume responsibility for the entire lifespan of their products including the reuse or recycling of the garments. SHEIN's statement does also not address how they are planning on tackling the water or air pollution caused at the manufacturing workshops.
I definitely don't believe a single word that comes out of their PR arm. They seem like a very shady company that would be really hard to hold actual action against them.
ReplyDeleteIts not surprising that the company has little transparency when it comes to labor, as the company seems to be doing some mischievous acts and getting away with it.
ReplyDeleteSince Shein is not willing to be transparent about its operations, I think the issue requires more attention from the media and lawmakers.
ReplyDeleteThe company is clearly driven significantly by their profit margin. Especially as their lack of transparency is somewhat a red flag to the guilt of its practices.
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