Scottish Water admits solar farms could use parts linked to China’s forced labour camps
The state-owned company has installed tens of thousands of solar panels, admitting that its solar farms could use components linked to forced labour camps in China, “in clear conflict” with its anti-slavery policies.
Uniqlo, Zara owners face new Paris lawsuit over Uyghur forced labor
Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing, Zara owner Inditex and Skechers are among the retailers facing fresh allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and other parts of China in a new lawsuit filed by The European Uyghur Institute in Paris.
Big Brands Face a $110 billion dilemma with the Beijing Olympics
In response to questions from Bloomberg about involvement in the 2022 Olympics, Omega said: “As a global brand, we are certainly aware of international tensions and monitor them carefully.… We sincerely believe that the Olympic Games is a perfect opportunity to meet on common ground in the spirit of unity.” Airbnb told Bloomberg that, “We believe China is an important part of our mission to connect people from around the world and from different backgrounds, now more than ever.”
Muslim-American coalition calls for Hilton boycott over planned hotel on Uyghur mosque
Over 40 Muslim-American civil rights NGOs announced their campaign calling for the boycott of Hilton Worldwide over plans to build a hotel on the site of a mosque destroyed by Chinese authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In July, a bipartisan US congressional commission called on Hilton Worldwide not to allow its name to be associated with the hotel project.
Hitachi Rail's statement on modern slavery
“Following the report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute that implicated several Chinese companies as having allegedly directly or indirectly benefitted from the use of Uyghur workers forcibly moved outside the Xinjiang region through an abusive labour transfer program, one of these Chinese companies was a business that we have a non-supplier affiliation with. We have since conducted an independent onsite third party audit based on SA8000 and await the report findings.”
German companies accused of profiting from forced Uighur Muslim labour in China
Several German companies have been accused of "profiting" from the forced labour of Uyghur Muslims in China. The allegation was made by the Berlin-based NGO, The European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR). High-profile brands including clothing chains Hugo Boss and C&A, and the discount chains Lidl, Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud were named in the complaint.
Reports of forced labor are driving brands to abandon Chinese cotton
Early last year, amid mounting reports of forced labor and human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), U.S. outdoor apparel maker Patagonia resolved to stop sourcing cotton from China. From April 2020 on, the brand’s global suppliers had to vet and eliminate any links to the world’s largest cotton producer. The decision wasn’t easy. China accounts for roughly 20% of global cotton supply, and Xinjiang produces some of the highest-grade cotton in the world.
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.”
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.
H&M’s latest statement on Xinjiang cotton is very careful not to mention Xinjiang
China’s consumer boycotts of foreign brands over Xinjiang cotton are presenting major global companies such as H&M, Zara owner Inditex, and Nike with some unpalatable options to choose from—further annoy a major supplier and consumer market, or appear not to care greatly about human rights. Some are attempting to mollify Beijing by deleting old statements voicing concern about the alleged use of forced labor in the region, where researchers estimate as many as 1 million ethnics Uyghurs have experienced internment in detention camps since at least 2017. Others are telling different stories to different audiences, possibly in the hope that no one notices. H&M is trying a tack so carefully middle of the road that it’s hard to know quite what it’s saying.
Here’s what foreign brands have to say about Xinjiang
Nike. The Gap. Uniqlo. Major clothing and footwear brands are under attack in China after Europe, the U.S. and other countries sanctioned Chinese officials this week over alleged human rights abuses. The companies, under pressure from activists, have tried to distance themselves from reports of forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region. Such statements have drawn attacks from state media and others.
12 Japan firms will kill business deals involving Uyghur forced labor
Twelve major Japanese companies have established a policy of ceasing business deals with Chinese companies found to benefit from the forced labor of the Muslim Uyghur minority in China's far-western Xinjiang region, a Kyodo News investigation showed Sunday. With the exception of Panasonic Corp., which declined to comment, all companies either denied directly doing business with companies suspected of benefiting from forced labor or said they could not verify the claims against their suppliers. In terms of future policy, 12 companies responded that they would cease or consider ceasing business with business partners found to be using forced labor.
Reformation Statement on Xinjiang
“We’ve signed onto the Call to Action by The Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur region. The Coalition’s Call to Action is endorsed by over 300 civil society organizations and labour groups who want to end human rights abuses against Uyghur people.”
VW boss Diess defends production in the Chinese province of Xinjiang
The VW Group has once again defended its business in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, despite reports of human rights violations. “We stand by our commitment in China, also in Xinjiang," said CEO Herbert Diess. "The presence of the company contributes more to improving the situation for people than turning them away”.
ASOS's response to the Foreign Affairs Committee's request for further detail on ASOS's approach to sourcing from the XUAR
ASOS's response to the Foreign Affairs Committee's request for further detail on ASOS's approach to sourcing from the XUAR.
Nintendo Investigated Report Of Forced Uighur Labor
During Nintendo’s most recent shareholder meeting, the company’s president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked about ASPI's report. “We as a company are aware of the news report that Uighurs might have been forced into labor at factories in our supply chain,” he replied. “However, as for the factory identified in the report, as far as we investigated, we could not confirm records of it being one of our business partners.”
The founder of Charles Tyrwhitt explains why his company doesn’t make shirts in China
Charles Tyrwhitt is curtailing production in China after receiving customer pressure. The contract with a cotton supplier in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region ended in July, reducing the number of shirts manufactured in China. “We are responding to customer demands,” Wheeler said. “Many customers say they don’t want to make shirts in China.”