In February, Radio Free Asia reported that internal migrant workers from across China making clothing for “cheap fashion brands”, including Shein, in Guangzhou are working in exploitative conditions.

Reported abuses include insecure and informal employment conditions and unreasonable working hours with “minimal rest”. The article also says “very few” of the factories in Guangzhou have air conditioning, despite temperatures “routinely” going above 30 degrees Celsius in summer. Some factories also “double as childcare”, with “teenagers” using sewing machines.

The article from Radio Free Asia also says Shein's demand for rapid turnaround times has led factories in Guangzhou to outsource to other provinces, including Jiangxi, Guangxi and Hunan, where wages are lower.

In March, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Shein to respond to the article's findings and workers’ allegations of abusive working conditions; disclose the steps it has taken to investigate and remedy workers for the abuse reported; and disclose how Shein is ensuring its purchasing practices, particularly in relation to factories in Guangzhou, Jiangxi, Guangxi and Hunan, meet the standards required to protect workers' rights and livelihoods, including rapid turnaround times. Shein’s response can be read in full below.