Please sign this petition to demand for transparency and change.

We ask the City of Markham to support our demands of Shein.

We ask the Federal Government of Canada to support our demands of Shein.

We ask the Provincial Government to support our demands of Shein.

Demands attached below.

For those of you that have not heard of Shein, it is an online fast fashion retailer that sells clothing, accessories, and beauty products to consumers around the world. 

Shein has set up a 170,000 sq ft warehouse and office in the City of Markham, ON, Canada.

It has been documented as the  worst of the worst. 

Despite its growing popularity and success, Shein has come under fire for its alleged human rights abuses and poor employment practices.

One of the most concerning issues with Shein is its labor practices. The company has been accused of exploiting workers in its supply chain by paying low wages, ignoring safety regulations, and violating labor laws. 

Reports suggest that Shein's suppliers often force employees to work long hours in dangerous conditions for little pay, denied basic rights such as breaks, sick leave, and overtime pay, and some subjected to abuse. 

Shein has also been criticized for its environmental practices. 

The company has been  accused of contributing to pollution and waste by producing cheap, disposable clothing that is designed to be worn only a few times before being discarded. 

Shein has also been accused of using toxic chemicals in its manufacturing process, which can harm workers and pollute local water supplies. 

Another issue with Shein is its lack of transparency. The company has been criticized for its secrecy and unwillingness to disclose information about its supply chain, labor practices, and environmental impact. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions about their purchases and hold the company accountable for its actions.

Shein has also faced accusations of cultural appropriation and insensitivity. The company has been criticized for selling clothing items that appropriate traditional cultural symbols and designs, without acknowledging or respecting their significance. Shein has also been accused of using offensive language and imagery in its marketing campaigns.

Overall, Shein's alleged human rights abuses and poor employment practices are deeply concerning. 

We have a responsibility to hold companies accountable for their actions and demand better practices.

There have been allegations that Shein has been complicit in human rights abuses against the Uyghur community in China. The Uyghur people are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority group that has faced persecution and human rights violations from the Chinese government.

Shein has been accused of sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, a region in China where Uyghur people have been subjected to forced labor and other human rights abuses. According to reports, the Chinese government has detained over a million Uyghur people in internment camps, where they are subjected to forced labor and other forms of exploitation.

Canada’s parliament unanimously passed a motion to  take in 10,000 Uyghur refugees, and offer them protection and a safe place to live. 

Over 1,600 Uyghurs have been detained in other countries at China’s behest or forcibly repatriated.

So we stand here today and ask......As Canadians we offer asylum to thousands of Uyghurs who have suffered abuse at the hands of organizations such as Shein and yet at the same time we are offering  a company known internationally for abusive means the right to make millions here. Where is the logic? 

The Government of Canada passed legislation a few weeks ago and to quote : “Recognizing the grave abuses against the #Uyghur in China -and  make a commitment to eradicate #forcedlabour from Canada's supply chains. We will strengthen an import ban on slave labour goods.” 

So now we are faced, here in the City of Markham, to be housing one of the worst clothing companies known worldwide.

City of Markham proudly  announced that its award-winning textile recycling program had reached a major milestone: keeping more than 20 million pounds (9,070,000 kilograms) of unwanted textiles out of landfill.                                   “The City of Markham’s award-winning textile recycling program continues to reach new heights with Over 20 million pounds diverted from landfills, and further advances and strengthens our sustainability goals and objectives,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “The success of the program is a testament to the determination and commitment of Markham residents who want to shape a greener future and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

As a City, we have worked so hard towards supporting a greener future. We need to come together and take a stand against businesses that 'go against our grain'.

Should Shein fail to comply or reach an agreement with us, we will proceed to demand that this company be removed from Canada

Markham cannot be seen to be the protector, the supporter, the facilitator of such a business. As a community we have morals. We have standards. We stand with the Uyghurs. We care for our planet. The list goes on.

 
Demand letter to Shein

Dear Mr. Xu,

RE: Shein warehouse, Markham ON, Canada.

We are writing to you regarding ongoing global concerns  surrounding the illegal use of forced labour to harvest cotton and produce textiles in China.

We are also extremely concerned about chemicals used which contribute to the  pollution of our environment.

We believe that it is important for companies to be transparent and accountable for their actions. 

We request the following information to help us understand the practices that Shein Clothing Company is undertaking to address these issues:

REQUEST 1: A list of all the suppliers that you use in your supply chain. This information will help us understand where your products are coming from and how you are managing your supply chain. We want to know where your cotton supply comes from and how much cotton you purchase. This information will help us understand how your products are being made and the environmental impact of your supply chain.

Supply chain transparency, starting with publishing names, addresses, and other important information about factories producing for global apparel companies, is a powerful tool to assert workers’ rights, advance ethical business practices, and build stakeholder trust.

Publishing supply chain information builds the trust of workers, consumers, labor advocates, and investors by signaling a company’s commitment to accountability.

REQUEST  2: Proof of where cotton, used in the production of items, is being sourced  from and how it is being harvested.

This demand is related to concerns about forced labor in the cotton industry in Xinjiang. Companies must ensure that their supply chains are not implicated in human rights abuses.

REQUEST 3: Proof that workers are being paid and treated according to the governments' stipulations in countries where they are based.

This demand is related to the broader issue of labor rights and corporate responsibility. It is important for companies to follow local labor laws and provide fair wages and safe working conditions. A transparent list of wages provided to workers in each country where you operate. We believe that it is important for workers to be paid a fair wage for their work, and we want to ensure that your company is doing its part to support fair labor practices. 

REQUEST 4: What steps, if any,  you have taken to reduce plastic waste

REQUEST 5: Information on how many returns you receive and what is done with returned items. 

We believe that it is important for companies to minimize waste and ensure that returned items are managed in a responsible manner that does not negatively impact the environment.

REQUEST 7: A guarantee of due diligence. We want to know that your company is taking all necessary steps to ensure that your products are made ethically and sustainably.

REQUEST 8: A guarantee that you will join the Transparency Pledge. This pledge helps demonstrate apparel and footwear companies’ commitment towards greater transparency in their manufacturing supply chain.

Transparency of a company’s manufacturing supply chain better enables a company to collaborate with civil society in identifying, assessing, and avoiding actual or potential adverse human rights impacts. This is a critical step that strengthens a company’s human rights due diligence. 

https://transparencypledge.org/the-pledge/

In addition to our requests above we ask that Shein Canada:

REQUEST 9: Fully fund a second-hand store in Markham that will be managed and run by a local nonprofit  where community members will be employed to repurpose some of the unwanted clothing products. Support a recycling program.

REQUEST 10: Offer a financial contribution towards a fund that will support Uyghur children in Canada to help fund  their post-secondary education. Whether directly or indirectly, it has been noted that SHEIN products have been produced using cotton produced in the Xinjiang region. This is the very region where horrific abuses against Uyghur people have and continue to take place.

We ask that Shein Canada fund these initiatives 

1.as a sign of goodwill and the desire to help create awareness on sustainability and help reduce waste, and 

2. take a stand against forced labour and the incarceration of Muslims in Xinjiang internment camps.

It is important for companies to prioritize both sustainability and ethical practices in their operations.

In conclusion, we urge Shein to take these requests seriously and prioritize ethical, sustainable, and responsible operations. Companies must ensure that their operations are transparent and accountable for human rights. 

For further information: 2thegivingtree@gmail.com

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/aug/29/fast-fashion-retailer-shein-design-reality-show

https://www.thecut.com/2022/10/shein-is-treating-workers-even-worse-than-you-thought.html
https://fortune.com/2022/12/06/shein-factory-investigation-finds-breached-local-labor-law/
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59245708
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2022/apr/10/shein-the-unacceptable-face-of-throwaway-fast-fashion
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/marketplace-fast-fashion-chemicals-1.6193385
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/exclusive-chinese-retailer-shein-lacks-disclosures-made-false-statements-about-2021-08-06/
https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/shein-fashion-brand
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-21/shein-s-cotton-clothes-tied-to-xinjiang-china-region-accused-of-forced-labor
https://twitter.com/SameerZuberi/status/1640819558456893442
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/02/canada-votes-to-take-in-10000-uyghur-refugees-amid-chinese-pressure-to-force-their-return