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Yesterday (7 January), the cross-party Business and Trade Committee questioned Shein's representatives over labour practices in its supply chain as part of an ongoing inquiry into employment rights.
Liam Byrne, chairman of the committee, spoke of the hearing: "For a company that sells billion pounds [of products] to UK consumers and for a company which is seeking to float on the London Stock Exchange, the committee has been pretty horrified by the lack of evidence that you have provided."
He went on to say that Shein has given MPs "almost zero confidence in the integrity of [its] supply chains" and "the reluctance to answer basic questions has frankly bordered on contempt of the committee".
Yinan Zhu, Shein's general counsel for EMEA, who was taking questions, was accused of "wilful ignorance" and being "disrespectful" by The Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard.
Zhu responded by saying she was answering their questions as best she could. She told MPs: "For detailed operational information and other aspects, I am not able to assist. I will have to write back to the committee afterwards."
She added that Shein has "supplier code of conducts" and "strong enforcement measures" to make sure it adheres to supply chain standards.
The hearing forms part of the committee's investigation into the government's employment rights bill in the context of protections for British workers. Representatives from Tesco and McDonalds have also been called on to give evidence to the committee.
Areas which the committee is looking at also include how to ensure adequate protection against importing poor labour standards, and concerns over forced labour in international supply chains.
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