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Company Response

2 Mar 2021

Ryohin Keikaku's response

1 Mar 2021

Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd. [...] which operates the MUJI brand, does not tolerate any forms of human rights abuse such as forced labor, and is making every effort to respect human rights in accordance with international norms, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The article titled ”Japan's Muji Stops Short of Ban on Cotton From Xinjiang, Where Forced Labor is Rife” published by Radio Free Asia on 12 February, 2021 stated that Ryohin Keikaku focuses on the Chinese market rather than the US market, and it also stated that we are reluctant to address the issues in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, but that is not true at all. [...]

[...]for the contract factories that produce MUJI products, we regularly arrange onsite factory audits carried out by third-party organizations. In cases that any non-compliance is detected, we require our business partner factories to take immediate remedial actions. With regard to the implementation of such remedial actions, we ask them to establish an effective program to solve the issues. Further, we carry out continuous monitoring, such as asking for the submission of evidence where the remedial actions are taken. In the unlikely event that our partner factories are proved to contribute to serious human rights abuse such as forced labor, and the situation cannot be improved even if we exercise our leverage, we will take careful and appropriate measures in accordance with our “Code of Conduct for Production Partners of Ryohin Keikaku”, including considering the cease of business relationship with such business partner or partner factory as an option.

[...]We also recently conducted enhanced due diligence for factories in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with whom we are indirectly related through our supply chain. While paying attention to various reports and news coverages, we have carried out this due diligence prudently and extensively following the guidance issued by international organizations and various national governments, including the U.S. government’s Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct.

[...] As to "Changji Esquel Textile Co. Ltd," which was mentioned in the report issued by Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in March 2020 as having a relationship with Ryohin Keikaku, we confirm that it is not a production partner that produces MUJI products, and there is no transaction between Changji Esquel Textile Co. Ltd and Ryohin Keikaku[...]

Part of the following timelines

China: 83 major brands implicated in report on forced labour of ethnic minorities from Xinjiang assigned to factories across provinces; Includes company responses

China: 83 major brands implicated in report on forced labour of ethnic minorities from Xinjiang assigned to factories across provinces; Includes company responses

China: Mounting concerns over forced labour in Xinjiang

China: Rights groups criticise Muji's efforts to ban Xinjiang cotton from supply chains