// Shein factory workers are working up to 18 hours a day with no weekends, according to new undercover investigation
// The investigation by Channel 4, looked at the factories supplying the world’s biggest retailer’s clothing items
A new undercover investigation into factories supplying Shein has shown that factory workers are working up to 18 hours a day with no weekends and just one day off per month.
The investigation by Channel 4, looked at the factories supplying the world’s biggest retailer‘s clothing items and revealed the appalling hours and wages of Shein workers.
Shein employees often have to work 18 hours a day while earning a wage of 3p for each garment produced.
Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning
Workers also have to work weekends and are only given one day off per month, according to the investigation.
If employees make a single mistake during the process of manufacturing items of clothing, they are fined two-thirds of their daily wage.
According to Shein, which has denied the conditions, the work requirements break the company’s conduct for suppliers.
Channel 4‘s footage shows a woman using the false name of Mei secretly filmed inside two factories she took employment with, producing the items that shoppers can purchase for as little as £1.49.
One factory shows women washing their hair during their lunch breaks as they don’t have time outside of work.
Employees in the first factory shown on the programme are paid a monthly wage of 4,000 yuan (£500) to make a minimum of 500 garments a day.
In order to make the living wage, many stay late into the night to earn commission of 0.14 yuan (2p) per item.
One of the workers revealed how they are not eligible for any leave or weekends.
Shein operates on an on-demand business model, which means clothing items are released in small batches and are only mass-produced if they become hits.
In April this year, Shein achieved a valuation of £76.5 billion ($100 billion) following a successful investment round.
The new valuation meant the company surpassed the combined value of the two biggest retailers in the world – Zara owner Inditex and H&M with £52 billion and £15 billion valuations respectively.
Founded in 2008, Shein rose to success selling inexpensive clothes and lifestyle items, with more than 2,000 new styles added daily.
