Human Rights Challenges in Global Supply Chains: The Case of Shein and Labour Exploitation in Fast Fashion

In recent years, the scrutiny of corporate practices regarding human rights has intensified, driven by globalization's expansion, and heightened public awareness. Multinational corporations now operate across borders, navigating varying regulatory landscapes and often exploiting disparities in labor laws and environmental protections. This has sparked a global debate on how best to ensure accountability for corporate actions, particularly concerning issues like labor exploitation and environmental degradation. The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) have emerged as a pivotal framework, advocating for states to enforce human rights protections, businesses to respect these standards, and victims to access effective remedies. Despite their non-binding nature, the UNGPs have influenced international discourse, shaping policies aimed at bridging the gap between corporate operations and human rights obligations. An additional significant development is the European Union's proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDD), which seeks to move beyond voluntary measures by imposing binding responsibilities on corporations above certain thresholds. This directive mandates rigorous oversight of supply chains, enforcement mechanisms, and civil liabilities, aiming to transform human rights and environmental norms from aspirational ideals into enforceable legal requirements. These initiatives highlight a shift towards mandatory corporate accountability, challenging the traditional reliance on voluntary initiatives that critics argue have often fallen short in practice. As global supply chains continue to grow in complexity, particularly in sectors like apparel and electronics, the need for robust regulatory frameworks becomes increasingly urgent to address systemic labor exploitation and ensure sustainable business practices. The case study of Shein, a leader in ultra-fast fashion, illustrates the complexities of corporate responsibility in modern supply chains. By examining Shein's rapid growth, reliance on subcontracting, and allegations of labor exploitation, the case study shows the challenges of enforcing meaningful human rights protections within the fast fashion industry.