Investigation: 'Nightmare' workingconditions in Chinese toy factories
- 5 years ago
GUANGDONG, CHINA — A report by human rights watchdogs, China Labor Watch, ActionAid, CiR, and Solidar Suisse shows the harrowing reality of labor conditions in Chinese toy factories.
The campaign groups sent undercover investigators to four major toy factories in Guangdong, China.
The factories manufacture products for brands like Hasbro, Mattel and Disney as well as German manufacturers.
The investigation uncovered a total of 23 severe rights violations.
According to the report, workers at one of the factories live in unsanitary dorms sharing a small single room with eight to 10 people.
Key findings reveal that factory workers put in 80 to 175 overtime hours per month. The Chinese labor department only allows for 36 overtime hours a month.
In three of the four factories, workers were made to sign blank contracts without explanation. Workers did not receive copies of their own contracts.
Workers also did not receive safety equipment as well as the legally required 24-hour safety training before starting work. This training is important as the workers handle toxic chemicals.
Employees reported being fined or even dismissed it they took sick days. All four factories do not have independent unions to help regulate working conditions.
The report comes out just in time for the holiday season. Simone Wasmann, from Solidar Suisse hopes parents will think twice before purchasing toys from Hasbro, Disney and Mattel saying "there's no Christmas magic going on here: those toys were made with cheap labour by women working illegally long hours for pennies."
The campaign groups sent undercover investigators to four major toy factories in Guangdong, China.
The factories manufacture products for brands like Hasbro, Mattel and Disney as well as German manufacturers.
The investigation uncovered a total of 23 severe rights violations.
According to the report, workers at one of the factories live in unsanitary dorms sharing a small single room with eight to 10 people.
Key findings reveal that factory workers put in 80 to 175 overtime hours per month. The Chinese labor department only allows for 36 overtime hours a month.
In three of the four factories, workers were made to sign blank contracts without explanation. Workers did not receive copies of their own contracts.
Workers also did not receive safety equipment as well as the legally required 24-hour safety training before starting work. This training is important as the workers handle toxic chemicals.
Employees reported being fined or even dismissed it they took sick days. All four factories do not have independent unions to help regulate working conditions.
The report comes out just in time for the holiday season. Simone Wasmann, from Solidar Suisse hopes parents will think twice before purchasing toys from Hasbro, Disney and Mattel saying "there's no Christmas magic going on here: those toys were made with cheap labour by women working illegally long hours for pennies."