Amid a cost of living crisis, who can resist the invitation to “shop like a billionaire” at bargain-basement prices?

Online juggernaut Temu is Australia’s most popular free app, offering a vast vortex of low-cost merchandise from fashion and homeware to toys and electronics.

But amid the thrilling rush of retail therapy lie some serious questions: Where does this stuff come from? What are conditions like for those at the bottom of the supply chain? And what about the environment?

On this episode of The Briefing Sacha talks to Sarah Rogan, senior labour rights campaigner at Oxfam.

A Temu spokesperson says:

Claims that Temu's competitive pricing is achieved through exploitative labour
practices are unfounded. We urge a closer examination of our approach, which
hinges on removing unnecessary expenses. Our cost-efficiency is due to a direct
connection between consumers and manufacturers, cutting out middlemen and their
markups. Our model also streamlines the logistics of production and distribution,
allowing us to offer lower prices to our customers.

Many merchants on Temu are reputable manufacturers with advanced production
facilities, supplying to well-known US brands and retailers like Amazon, Walmart,
and Target. These manufacturers adhere to high industry standards and are
recognised for their quality production.

Temu is dedicated to upholding ethical labour practices. Our Third-Party Code of
Conduct forbids any form of forced, child, or penal labour and requires adherence to
all local labour laws, including those related to wages, working hours, voluntary
employment, freedom of association, and the right to collective bargaining. We
demand strict compliance with all regulatory standards and reserve the right to
sever ties with any business that breaches our Code of Conduct or the law.

As for the concern about forced labour in product compliance, we take this issue
seriously. Our standards and practices align with those of major U.S. e-commerce
platforms, such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, rendering any allegations completely
ungrounded.

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