RE: Another day another country.11 Apr 2024 19:57
The concerns relate to the conditions under which these retailers’ suppliers have their employees working, how the companies handle and protect users’ personal data, and the reputation that the stores have when it comes to deliveries and returns.
In South Africa, the clothing and textile sector is also worried about how the companies’ low prices are impacting their businesses and jobs.
A US House Select Committee stated in an interim report that Temu was doing next to nothing to keep its supply chains free from slave labour.
Low pay and forced labour
Several reputed media publications have reported about the long work hours and low pay Shein’s clothing makers earn.
An undercover investigation by Channel 4 and The i newspaper in the UK revealed that workers in one factory earned 4,000 yuan (R10,223) per month but had to make at least 500 pieces of clothing per day.
In another factory, workers did not get paid a base salary but earned 0.27 yuan (R0.69) per item of clothing.