The Asian fashion brand Shein “does not comply with several recommendations of the guiding principles of the OECD” on human rights, wages or the environment, according to a statement from the organization published on Monday.
In 2023, socialist deputies had seized the “OECD National Point of Contact (PCN)”, an agency supported by the Economic Cooperation and Development Organization, to question several aspects of the production chain of the online sales company.
Founded in 2012 in China and based in Singapore, Shein is regularly accused of environmental pollution and unworthy working conditions.
The PCN has just reached its conclusions, not binding. He accuses Shein for not submitting to AGEC law, which requires brands to indicate to each of their products the percentage of recycled materials and the countries where fabric, tincture and manufacturing operations are carried out.
“Efforts have been made”
In addition, he suspects that Shein clarifies his duties in terms of labor law by protecting himself behind Chinese legislation, from which his supplies come mainly. However, “it depends on the company to implement proactive measures to guarantee (…) respect for applicable international standards”, without which there are obstacle risks to the freedom of association of workers, precarious or even forced working conditions.
The OECD also regrets that Shein does not publish “its audit network” of factories or “without mapping of its activities or its supply chain”, or its social and environmental impacts, except the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions.
The organization also recommends that its financial results be published, the structure of its capital or its government.
He acknowledges that “since the reception of the reference, Shein has made efforts to formalize a sustainability policy and communicate about his first results.”
Shein “has constructively participated in this process for more than two years (from June 2023 to September 2025), sharing a lot of information and remains open to dialogue,” the company told AFP on Monday.
She said she regretted that “the procedure has not always reflected the spirit of neutral mediation provided by the OECD framework, due in particular to the consultations limited to certain known criticisms of Shein.”
Source: BFM TV
