Uyghurs for Sale: ‘Re-education’, forced labour and surveillance beyond Xinjiang
(First published 1 March 2020) The Chinese government has facilitated the mass transfer of Uyghur and other ethnic minority citizens from the far west region of Xinjiang to factories across the country. Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 82 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including Apple, BMW, Gap, Huawei, Nike, Samsung, Sony and Volkswagen.
In the midst of the Uyghur scandal, the managing director of Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot resigns
The SMCP group, which owns the Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot brands, has just announced the departure of its managing director Daniel Lalonde. If the textile giant says that his resignation has “nothing to do” with the scandal of the Uyghurs, the group is nevertheless facing a crisis. In early July, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation targeting him for “concealing a crime against humanity”.
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.