Senior Labour MP in UK Demands Legislation to Combat Uyghur Forced Labour

September 16, 2024 TruthUSA

Liam Byrne, who was recently elected as the chair of the Business and Trade Committee, emphasized the need for the British government to strengthen rules on supply chain reporting.

According to Labour Party’s former minister Liam Byrne, the UK should implement its own version of the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).

As the new chair of the Business and Trade Committee, Byrne urged the Labour government to enhance regulations on supply chain reporting, a commitment he believes the Conservative government has failed to fulfill.

“I urge the new government to fulfill the promise made by the Conservatives in the 2022 Queens Speech to bolster the modern slavery act and increase requirements on supply chain reporting,” Byrne stated, highlighting the importance of restoring the UK’s leadership in trusted trade.

Under the UFLPA, products originating from China’s Xinjiang region or manufactured by entities on the UFLPA Entity List are presumed to be forced labor products and prohibited from entering the United States. Importers must prove that their shipments comply with the act.

Activists have previously called on policymakers to bridge the gap between British and U.S. laws, asserting that the UK has become a “dumping ground” for Uyghur forced labor products.

Byrne, along with other senior MPs, advocated for increased scrutiny when Shein, a Chinese e-commerce giant accused of selling products made with cotton from Xinjiang, reportedly considered a potential listing on the London Stock Exchange in June.

Byrne stated that his primary focus is to request Shein executives to testify before the Business and Trade Committee, pending the election of the full committee.

Following the general election in July, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds expressed his support for Shein’s potential listing in the UK, insisting that no listed company in the UK should engage in forced labor within its supply chain.

Prior to considering a listing in London, Shein had attempted to list its shares in New York. However, the company faced scrutiny in the U.S. over allegations of using Uyghur forced labor in its clothing production.

Shein, which is headquartered in Singapore and founded in China, did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.

A company spokesperson highlighted Shein’s “zero-tolerance policy for forced labor” and emphasized their commitment to upholding human rights by ensuring transparency in their supply chain.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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