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Zara, Uniqlo and Skechers Investigated Over Alleged Uyghur Forced Labor

Leading fashion brands are facing a French probe over allegations they profited from exploiting forced labor in the Chinese Uyghur community to manufacture their products. A French prosecutor’s office started the investigation last month looking at accusations that Claudie Pierlot parent SMCP SA, Zara owner Inditex SA, Skechers and Uniqlo profited from human rights crimes against the Muslim ethnic group, according to an official from the French Prosecution Office.

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France investigates fashion brands over forced Uyghur labour claims

French prosecutors have opened an investigation into four multinational fashion retailers on suspicion of concealing and profiting from crimes against humanity in China’s Xinjiang region by sourcing goods produced using forced Uyghur labour. Judicial sources confirmed to French media on Friday the investigation concerned Uniqlo France, owned by Fast Retailing; Inditex, which owns Zara and Bershka; SMCP, the owner of the French fashion labels Sandro and Maje; and the footwear company Skechers.

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Report: Apple suppliers in China tell ethnic minorities not to apply for jobs

A new report claims that Apple's suppliers in China are discriminating against ethnic minorities, telling them not to apply for jobs in the company's supply chain. According to The Information, ads "explicitly" stated that members of minority ethnic groups were not to Apple, one advert for an iPhone cover glass manufacturer stating "Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hui, Yi, Dongxiang from Tibet or Xinjiang regions aren't accepted." The report says positions explicitly stated that the work was to be carried out for Apple. By contrast, the report says some suppliers will accept workers from "government labor programs" because they received special benefits as a result:

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Jaguar and Land Rover's slavery and human trafficking statement 2021

“During the year ended 31 March 2020, we became aware of a report by an independent “think tank” which alleged that a company that they link to human rights concerns is a supplier to Jaguar and Land Rover. Our investigations confirmed that this company does not supply directly to JLR and our enquiries of our suppliers have not identified any evidence that the company is part of our supply chain. The independent “think tank” have updated their report to reflect the findings of our investigation.”

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Apple suppliers linked to Uyghur forced labor in new report

Several Apple suppliers may have used forced labor in China, according to The Information. Working with two human rights groups, the publication identified seven companies that supplied products or services to Apple and supported forced labor programs, according to statements made by the Chinese government. The programs target the country’s Muslim minority population, particularly Uyghurs living in Xinjiang.

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Adidas is trying to have it both ways on Xinjiang

Adidas is trying to win back Chinese shoppers after it was caught up in an uproar in March with several Western companies over their stances on China’s Xinjiang region. US and European authorities say forced labor of Uyghurs and other Muslim groups is widespread in the region’s giant cotton industry, charges fiercely denied by the Chinese government and consumers who boycott companies they accuse of slandering China.

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There’s a good chance your cotton T-shirt was made with Uyghur slave labor

China is by many measures now the world’s largest economy, and in the wake of this boycott, major global apparel companies including Inditex and PVH have removed policies against forced labor from their websites. So far these companies are in the minority, but they own global brands such as Zara, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. As long as there is a market for goods sourced from the Uyghur region, the Chinese government will be emboldened to keep operating the mass detention camps where Uyghur people are being held in indentured servitude.

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