🕒 Unchanged Long Hours
Two years after initial reports, Shein's factory workers in Guangzhou still work excessive hours. Workers reported shifts from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with only one day off per month. Despite Shein's code of conduct limiting work to 60 hours per week, employees are forced into 75-hour weeks. One worker shared, "I work every day from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and have one day off per month. I can’t afford more days off, the costs are too high."
💸 Inadequate Wages
Wages for Shein's workers remain low. Depending on the factory and season, wages range from $850 to $1,400 per month, including excessive overtime. Piece-rate pay is common, making consistent income difficult. One specialist in cuff seams can earn over $1,400 monthly, but most earn between $850 and $1,100. Shein's audits claim above-average wages but ignore the illegal working hours contributing to these figures.
🕵️♂️ Questionable Audits
Shein's audits lack transparency and fail to address critical issues. A 2022 audit by SGS, TÜV Rheinland, and Intertek showed supposedly above-average wages but omitted working hours data. Shein did not provide the full report, raising doubts about the audit's credibility. Additionally, Shein's sustainability reports have been removed from their website, and earlier claims of appropriate wages have been retracted.
📉 Unclear Financials
Shein's financial and ownership structure remains opaque. The company reports a $45B valuation and $13.8B in 2022 sales from the EU, USA, and UK. However, Shein's founder Xu Yangtian stepped down from the board in 2023, and the company has not explained his absence. Investors continue to back Shein despite its questionable practices. Political pressure is mounting, with initiatives in France, the EU, USA, and Switzerland aiming to regulate the fast fashion industry more effectively.
Is Shein really committed to improving factory conditions?
