Shein has published new insights from a 2025 programme carried out with Cascale Better Buying and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), pointing to a recurring pressure point in fast-fashion supply chains: suppliers want more predictable demand and stable order volumes to plan production, manage labour and protect cash flow.
The company said the work examined wages and gathered worker feedback across 208 of its largest supplier facilities in Guangzhou, China. Researchers reviewed 7,317 wage samples covering 2,441 workers and collected survey responses from 9,981 workers on their pay and workplace experiences.
According to Shein, 95.3% of surveyed workers were earning at or above the hourly living wage benchmark for Guangzhou, using calculations provided by WRAP-accredited monitoring company CTI. But the worker surveys also revealed a more mixed perception of financial security: only 60.9% said they felt their wages were sufficient for living expenses, while 26.7% said they were not, and 12.4% were unsure. Shein said the difference between wage benchmarks and worker sentiment may be influenced by “personal needs and aspirations” as well as income levels.
In response to the findings, Shein said it is working with WRAP and the Ethical Supply Chain Program (ESCP) on a pilot to provide third-party workers access to an independently operated support hotline at a selected number of facilities. “Since launching in March 2026, the hotline has provided workers with access to legal, psychological, and HR support, offering them professional and efficient support for real-life challenges they face at their workplaces and at home,” Shein explained.
Separately, Shein said it has joined the fifth annual Cascale Better Buying Partnership Ship Index (BBPI), which gathers supplier views on brands’ purchasing practices. A total of 72 Shein suppliers completed the survey, producing an overall score of +64 on a -100 to +100 scale, compared with a benchmark score of +61. Shein also said 90.3% of participating suppliers ranked it as a preferred business partner.
However, the BBPI responses also highlighted areas suppliers want Shein to address. Chief among them was the call for stable order volumes, with suppliers pointing to demand swings linked to rapid product changes—such as styles being removed from sale—as well as softer off-peak periods. Suppliers said variability makes it harder to forecast labour needs, maintain efficient production schedules and avoid cost spikes.
Suppliers also reported additional stress from a more difficult global trade environment, citing rising costs and tighter cash flow as competition intensifies. They urged closer communication from Shein around short-term demand shifts and longer-term strategic changes, arguing that clearer signals would reduce disruption and uncertainty across the supplier base.
Shein said the results of the BBPI survey have been shared internally to guide improvements. “Findings from the BBPI survey were shared with Shein’s senior leadership and relevant business teams to inform ongoing efforts to strengthen purchasing practices and supplier engagement.”
