Public Eye, a human rights advocacy group based in Switzerland, criticized Chinese fashion giant Shein in a report released in 2021 for forcing its workers to work excessive overtime. The group followed up with a new report stating that illegal working hours and piecework wages are still prevalent among Shein workers.
Public Eye expressed concerns about Shein’s fast fashion business model, which offers a wide range of clothing at low prices by utilizing cheap labor and materials. The group conducted interviews with textile workers in China who work for Shein and its suppliers, revealing that long workweeks and low wages are common.
Despite Shein’s efforts to improve its labor practices, Public Eye found that the company’s factories still lack safety standards and may even employ child labor. The group dismissed Shein’s audit of its supplier factories as a public relations stunt and called for continued external pressure to hold the company accountable.
Shein responded to these criticisms by stating that it is taking steps to address labor issues and improve conditions for its workers. The company emphasized the importance of industry collaboration to ensure continuous progress in this area and stated that it does not tolerate child labor.
Overall, Public Eye remains skeptical of Shein’s commitment to social responsibility and believes that external pressure is necessary to push the company to make meaningful changes.
