Disney doll factory in China accused of underpaying women workers
- Undercover investigation by human rights groups finds staff – most of whom are women – earn less than US$1.30 an hour
Consumers are being asked to think twice when buying gifts this Christmas after reports that a Chinese factory making Disney and Fisher-Price dolls is being investigated over its treatment of workers by an ethical scheme for the toy industry.
An investigation by human rights groups Solidar Suisse and China Labor Watch found that staff at a toy factory in Heyuan, in the southern province of Guangdong, were working illegal overtime, receiving no holiday or sick pay, and often earned less than US$1.30 per hour.
The mostly female workforce at the Wah Tung factory – which has been certified by responsible sourcing scheme the Ethical Toy Programme (ETP) – make toys for Disney, Mattel’s Fisher-Price brand and other global companies, according to the two groups.
Neither Disney nor Mattel were immediately available to comment.
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The two toy giants are members of the ETP, which says it certifies and audits about 1,200 toy factories worldwide for more than 1,000 brands and retailers with the aim of improving workers’ lives and raising labour standards across the industry.
