Rights group files complaint against German retailers over Chinese textiles

A human-rights group filed a complaint to German prosecutors on Monday alleging that several fashion retailers profited from forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region.

The Berlin-based European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights accuses Lidl, Hugo Boss and other retailers of abetting and profiting directly or indirectly from forced labour in Xinjiang’s cotton industry, according to the 96-page complaint received by prosecutors in the Karlsruhe federal court.

China denies Western countries’ accusations that it mistreats minority Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, or that forced labour is carried out there. A spokesperson at the Chinese embassy in Berlin was not immediately available to comment.

“It is unacceptable that European governments criticize China for human-rights violations, while European companies may be profiting from the exploitation of the Uyghur population,” said Miriam Saage-Maass, head of ECCHR’s Business and Human Rights program.

“It is high time that those responsible in the companies are held accountable if suspicions of forced labour are confirmed.”

The filing aims to convince the prosecutor to open an inquiry that, its authors say, could hold management of the retailers to account and make customers more aware of abuses in their supply chains.

A Lidl spokesperson said allegations relating to the company were “based on old supplier lists and relate to past orders or periods of time.” The company has a “zero tolerance” policy toward forced labour and child labour, obliging contractors along the supply chain to adhere to social standards.

“If we become aware of concrete facts regarding violations of these provisions, we will investigate and take appropriate steps. In this context, production facilities have been closed,” the Lidl spokesperson said.