An initial public offering by Shein Group on the London Stock Exchange was always going to be controversial, but recent comments from a Labour MP have further amplified the chorus of scrutiny over the Chinese fast-fashion giant's plans.
Liam Byrne, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North and newly appointed chair of the cross-party Business and Trade Committee, has called on Britain to outlaw imports of products linked to forced labour among the Uyghur minority in China’s Xinjiang region.
"I'd like to see the new government follow through on the promise made - but never delivered - by the Conservatives in the 2022 Queen's Speech - to strengthen the modern slavery act and toughen up requirements on supply chain reporting," Byrne said in comments published by Reuters.
Byrne did not directly cite Shein, but the company, which is weighing up a blockbuster IPO on the London Stock Exchange, has long been linked to Uyghur forced labour.
In June, UK charity Stop Uyghur Genocide, with supprot from human rights lawfirm Leigh Day, called on the Financial Conduct Authority to block any listing of Shein shares on the London capital markets.
Amnesty International UK previously said a listing would be a “badge of shame” for London.
Shein itself has admitted to uncovering multiple instances of child labour in its supply chain, but it has not directly addressed the Uyghur controversy.
"Shein has a zero-tolerance policy for forced labour,” Shein said in response to Byrne’s comments. “Visibility across our entire supply chain is of the highest importance to us and we are wholly committed to respecting human rights.”
Byrne is calling for a UK iteration of the US’s Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.