New complaint launched in Ireland over goods potentially linked to Uyghur forced labour

New complaint launched in Ireland over goods potentially linked to Uyghur forced...

New complaint launched in Ireland over goods potentially linked to Uyghur forced labour

New complaint filed by the Irish Uyghur Cultural Association (IUCA) and Global Legal Action Network

Case summary

March 2026: New complaint submitted to Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and Criminal Assets Bureau alleging that Temu’s and Shein’s Irish subsidiaries handle revenue from goods potentially linked to Uyghur forced labour, which may be proceeds of crime under Irish law.

The complaint alleges that the Irish-based entities of SHEIN and Temu, global fast-fashion companies that source most of their products from China and which both have their European headquarters in Ireland, are committing the criminal offence of money laundering – the knowing handling of proceeds of crime – in Ireland. This is due to the ongoing likelihood of Xinjiang cotton, produced through forced labour of the Uyghur people, being used in SHEIN and Temu supply chains and the significant revenue flows through Irish subsidiaries. Revenue generated from the sale of goods produced from forced labour could come within the definition of proceeds of crime, within the meaning of Irish law. In the complaint, GLAN and IUCA have highlighted publicly available evidence which alleges links between SHEIN and Temu products and Uyghur forced labour. Both companies are channelling hundreds of millions of euros in revenue through Irish subsidiaries. Therefore, based on the evidence, the complaint asks the GNECB to fully investigate the alleged criminal conduct and for the CAB to bring proceedings to identify and seize any assets that may constitute proceeds of crime from the Irish companies, in order to stop forced-labour trade and related revenue flows in Ireland.

Case background

85% of China’s cotton comes from the Uyghur Region. A staggering 30% of the world’s cotton comes from China.
In September 2022, the UN has added its voice to the deep concern that there are crimes against humanity and forced labour occurring in in the Uyghur Region.
We are fighting for a complete ban of the import of forced-labour cotton into Ireland.

Resources

Map of Suspected Detention Facilities.png

This map shows the possible locations of Uyghur detention centres.

‘Ireland warned to stop import of cotton linked to Uyghur detention camps’ Sunday Business Post

‘Ireland urged to ban imports of cotton produced using ‘forced labour’ in China’ The Irish Times

Authoritative legal opinion concludes that treatment of Uyghurs amounts to crimes against humanity and genocide

Case Timeline

March 2026

New complaint filed by the Irish Uyghur Cultural Association (IUCA) and Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNBECB) and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) targets the revenue generated from the sale of goods alleged to be linked to forced labour and therefore may be the proceeds of crime.

October 2023

On 20th October 2023, along with our partners World Uyghur Congress, we submitted our views to the Irish Government in response to their public consultation on the EU Commission’s proposal for a regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market (the “Proposed Regulation”).

Our submission was endorsed by Anti-Slavery International based in the UK and The Human Trafficking Legal Center based in the US. Our submission details crucial amendments that are required to the Proposed Regulation to ensure that it will effectively address state-imposed forced labour.

October 2022

On the 7th October 2022, we wrote to the Irish Revenue Commissioners calling for a ban to the importation of cotton goods from China’s Uyghur region.

In the letter to the Revenue Commissioners, we outlined the crimes against humanity taking place in the region and the irrefutable connection between Uyghur forced labour and Europe’s fashion industry.

EU law explicitly recognises the prohibition of slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour, as a fundamental human right. International law prohibits the importation of goods produced under these circumstances.