Inquiry into Shein's Labor Practices

LONDON (Reuters) – British lawmakers could question executives of online fast-fashion group Shein regarding workers' rights as early as January, in advance of a potential London listing, according to the head of a parliamentary committee.

The House of Commons' Business and Trade Committee recently initiated an inquiry into employment rights. The committee intends to examine the new Labour government's employment rights bill, focusing on protections for UK workers while also addressing how to ensure sufficient protection against poor labour standards abroad, particularly concerns about forced labour in international supply chains.

Labour lawmaker and former minister Liam Byrne, the chair of the committee, stated in an email to Reuters that he anticipates Shein will be among the witnesses considered during the inquiry, though the final list is yet to be determined.

Parliamentary inquiries gather both oral and written evidence, typically culminating in a published report.

Shein, which is headquartered in Singapore but originally founded in China, is working towards a London IPO and is currently awaiting regulatory approval from British and Chinese authorities, having filed papers confidentially with Britain's market regulator in early June.

The company opted not to comment on the potential invitation to the committee inquiry. However, Shein, which has faced criticism in Britain and elsewhere regarding its supply chain labor standards, has previously asserted its commitment to respecting human rights and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for forced labour.