Rights organisations reported that they had launched a fresh case in France against Inditex, the owner of Zara and Uniqlo, and other textile behemoths for allegedly making money from the forced labour of the Uyghur minority in China.
Allegations of crimes against humanity, aggravated reduction to servitude, genocide, and human trafficking are included in the filed complaint.
Using forced labour in their supply chains was disputed by the corporations.
The European Uyghur Institute, the Ethics on Labels group, Sherpa, an anti-corruption organisation, and a Uyghur woman who had been imprisoned in a camp in Xinjiang, in western China, filed the case.
In response to the filing, a judge will likely be appointed to conduct an investigation.
The complainants claim that they wish to raise awareness of “the potential liabilities of multinational clothing companies that profit from the forced labour of Uyghurs for the production of their products,” particularly cotton products.
The Fast Retailing subsidiary Uniqlo France, Inditex, the Spanish owner of Zara and other brands, SMCP, a French fashion company, and Skechers, a manufacturer of footwear, were all accused of marketing goods that were at least partially made in factories that subjected Uyghurs to forced labour, according to rights organisations.
Along with the four businesses, Nike and other well-known brands have come under fire for similar allegations.
Inditex said the latest accusations were unfounded. “The company has rigorous traceability controls to ensure the provenance of its products and a zero-tolerance policy towards any kind of forced labor,” Inditex said.
Fast Retailing said it had not been notified by the authorities but that, if and when it happens, it “will cooperate fully with the investigation to reaffirm there is no forced labor in our supply chains.”
SMCP said it had “already denied with the greatest firmness these accusations.”
