Cotton On, Target Australia Stopped Sourcing Cotton From Chinas Xinjiang After Forced Labor Allegations

Two companies, Cotton On and Target Australia, have reportedly stopped sourcing cotton from Chinas Xinjiang after an investigation by an Australian TV program reported that Uyghur Muslims were being forced to work in a number of textile factories in the region.

“Four Corners,” by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), revealed in July that certain brands of clothing sold in Australia—including Target, Cotton On, Jeanswest, Dangerfield, Ikea, and H&M—were sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, and that “mounting evidence” points to a system of forced labor in the region.

The ABC reported in July that Cotton On and Target Australia were investigating their relationships with their suppliers in Xinjiang, and that as of Oct. 17, Cotton On had completed its internal investigation.

According to the ABC, Cotton On said it no longer sourced from Xinjiang-based subcontractor Litai Textiles. Cotton On also said that it is “absolutely committed to having an ethical supply chain.”

Target Australia said it has “made the decision to stop orders” from a mill owned by the company Huafu in Xinjiang, the network reported. An internal investigation is being conducted into supplies sourced from the mill.

Meanwhile, Jeanswest said that an internal investigation after the Four Corners report yielded “no evidence that any of our cotton comes from this region,” reported the ABC.

Amnesty International campaigner Ruse Kulak said in a statement on Oct. 17: “Amnesty welcomes this move by Cotton On and Target to stop sourcing cotton from Xinjiang. We know there are terrible human rights violations occurring for the million Uyghur people currently interred there in political re-education camps where forced labour is a common practice.”

“Australians care about human rights and do not want to aid practices like forced labour when they buy a new t-shirt.”

“Clearly, the risk is too great for these companies to be associated with the oppression of the Uyghur people. We call on all Australian companies to make transparent their supply chains to ensure consumers do not unwittingly support gross human rights abuses of Uyghur people.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to Cotton On and Target Australia for comment.

The Associated Press reported in early October thatRead More – Source