China: Investigation finds labour abuse & sexual harassment at toy factories producing for international brands; Includes company responses
In November 2019, labour rights NGO China Labour Watch released a report raising allegations of labour abuses faced by workers at five factories producing for international toy brands in Guangdong Province, China. Allegations include low wages, excessive overtime, inadequate health and safety protections, poor living conditions in worker dormitories, restrictions to freedom of association, discrimination, sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the toy brands and factories named in the report to respond to the allegations. Basic Fun!, Buzz Bee Toys, Disney, fGTeev (Bonkers Toys), Hasbro, LEGO and Mattel responded and their responses can be found below. Melissa & Doug, MGA Entertainment, KD Group (Inspiration Works), Wah Tung (He Yuan), Dongguan KongXing Industry, Dongguan Wing Fai Foam Products, and Everfront Plastic & Electronics Manufacturing could not be reached or did not respond.
The five toy factories investigated are ICTI Ethical Toy Program (IETP) Certified, while Mattel, Disney and LEGO are Buyer Members of IETP. IETP launched its own investigation into the allegations and found evidence of allegations in violation of the IETP standard in four of the five factories (excluding Foshan Nanhai Mattel Precision Diecasting). IETP's report detailing its' findings and explaining the follow-up work it is undertaking at each factory is linked below.