Recent reports have highlighted alarming connections between fast-fashion giants Temu and Shein and the exploitation of Uyghur forced labor in China’s Uyghur Region. Investigations, including those by human rights organizations and media outlets, reveal that these companies have links to supply chains tainted by forced labor practices targeting Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.

The Uyghur Union calls on the U.S. government to ban Temu and Shein, citing their complicity in human rights abuses. This demand underscores the urgency of addressing systemic forced labor and ensuring that companies profiting from such practices are held accountable.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), enacted by the U.S. Congress in 2021, mandates strict measures to prevent products made with forced labor from entering the U.S. market. However, the enforcement of this critical legislation remains inconsistent. Authorities must take immediate action to uphold the UFLPA and ban Temu and Shein from operating within the United States unless they can verifiably ensure their supply chains are free from forced labor.

Protecting human rights and maintaining ethical trade practices should not be negotiable. It is time to prioritize the enforcement of laws designed to combat forced labor and heed calls from advocacy groups like the Uyghur Union to take decisive action.