Singapore-based Shein has pledged to increase audits of manufacturers in China after it found two cases of child labour at suppliers last year.
As part of its sustainability report, the fast-fashion marketplace made assurances that it would tightened its supplier policy after the child labour cases were found. Any severe breaches – Immediate Termination Violations – would end the relationship with the supplier.
On Thursday 22 August, it suspended orders from the suppliers that had employed children under 16. Shein will only work with these suppliers once more when they have strengthened their processes including checking workers’ identity documents.
“Both cases were resolved swiftly, with remediation steps including terminating contracts with underage employees, ensuring the payment of any outstanding wages, arranging medical checkups and facilitating repatriation to parents/legal guardians as needed,” the marketplace explained.
“Following appropriate remediation, the contract manufacturers were permitted to resume business.”
Shein has grown fast through what it terms a “new kind of fashion business model” that provides customers in more than 150 countries with the products they want to buy, on demand.
Earlier this month, there were reports that it was looking for its first UK warehouse. Shein is considering a UK distribution site within the Midlands ‘golden logistics triangle’, as it prepares to list on the London Stock Exchange.
The marketplace, founded in 2012, engages with shoppers through discount-driven offers on its website, mobile app and on social media. Visitors to Shein are offered points to join its email marketing list, while Shein loyalty club members receive vouchers for free shipping. The digital-first retailer engages with shoppers through eight social media platforms, including Facebook – where it has 31mn followers.
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