McDonald's has warned a mainland contractor that produces the fast-food chain's toys to clean up its act after the Sunday Morning Post uncovered labour abuses at factory.
And McDonald's bosses say they are investigating eight other factories that may be in breach of either mainland employment laws or the company's code of practice.
The company has outlined a 'corrective action plan' with its contract toy-making factories in Shenzhen after a Post report last week revealed that workers were being paid well below the minimum wage and were required to work 17 hours a day, seven days a week.
After the report revealed that labour abuses were taking place at Chit Tat - a plant in Shenzhen that makes giveaway toys - McDonald's conducted face-to-face interviews with workers and bosses at the factory and confirmed there were 'some serious issues' that needed fixing.
The fast-food chain's corporate spokesman, Walt Riker, said a McDonald's team from the Oak Brook, Illinois, international headquarters had met its external monitors and officials from Simon Marketing - the sourcing agency that contracts business with this mainland factory - to fully review the findings.
A letter was also received by the company from Chit Tat's owner who pledged to remedy the problems.
'From this comprehensive, no-holds-barred session we quickly began outlining a corrective action plan,' Mr Riker said.