China Labor Watch accuses Mattel, Hasbro, Disney, Fisher-Price of exploiting Chinese workers

NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The world of toys is a heaven for children, but may be a world of misery for toy factory workers. They put in 11 hours every day, and work 6 or 7 days a week, but earn only the minimum wage in harmful working environments. 10 workers are squeezed into a small dormitory room, and in winter, they frequently don't have hot showers. Workers lack complaint channels, and representatives of the union are assigned by factory management. This situation has lasted for many decades. Tragically, not much has changed so far.

In 2016, China Labor Watch underwent an undercover investigation in April and September at four toy factories that produce for Mattel, Hasbro, Disney, McDonalds and Wal-Mart. Toys produced include Thomas the Tank Engine, Hot Wheels, Cars, Barbie, DJ Suki Trolls, Super Hero, Super Girl, Hello Kitty, Jibanyan, Disney Princess and Imaginext. We discovered many violations, and these include:

1. Long working hours without rest breaks, which is in serious violation of Chinese Labor Law.
2. Ignoring the Pre-Work Safety Training and lacking safety protection measures.
3. Refusing to pay social insurance and the housing fund for workers, or failing to pay in accordance with the relevant provisions and laws.
4. Lack of a union which operates effectively, lack of an independent and effective complaints channel.
5. Low wages, poor food and accommodation.
6. During off season, the factory limits overtime work for workers, with the purpose of punishing and dismissing workers. 

Labor rights violations in toy factories is nothing new. We can't tolerate that children's dreams are based on worker's nightmares, and must fight against the unfair oppression of workers who manufacture toys. Toys manufactured in China is a process where workers' rights have been infringed upon. Workers in toy factories face heavy workloads, but earn an extremely low wage. They have children too. But after years of separation, when workers finally return home with various occupational injuries, who will protect the dreams of their children? The striking contrast between the life of these workers, and the millionaires who earn profits from toys is shocking. Those who earn high profits from toys have done so by oppressing the interests of workers, and as such, their negligence should be subject to public and moral condemnation.

SOURCE China Labor Watch