Investigation Reveals Widespread Exploitation of Toy Factory Workers
Workers at a Chinese factory that produces Labubus, the popular furry toys made by Hong Kong-listed company Pop Mart, are being subjected to exploitation and abuse, according to a report by China Labor Watch (CLW). The investigation found evidence of forced labor contracts, underage workers being employed without proper protections, inadequate health and safety training, and other serious labor rights violations.
The factory, Shunjia Toys in Xinfeng county, Jiangxi province, employs over 4,500 people and is one of the main suppliers of Labubus. CLW's researchers interviewed more than 50 employees, including three under the age of 18, who all worked exclusively on Labubus. The investigation revealed that workers were being forced to sign blank labor contracts with little understanding of their terms or conditions.
Underage workers, aged 16 and 17, were employed without special protections afforded by Chinese law, such as prohibitions on hazardous work. Despite this, they were assigned to standard assembly line positions alongside adult workers, with no difference in workload or production targets. The researchers found that the 16- to 18-year-old workers did not understand their contracts and had no clear concept of their legal status.
The investigation also revealed that workers were given unrealistic production targets, with a team of 25-30 workers required to assemble at least 4,000 Labubus per day. This exceeds the monthly overtime limit of 36 hours set by Chinese labor law, with many workers reportedly working over 100 additional hours each month.
Pop Mart has maintained that it takes the welfare and safety of its workers seriously but has been criticized for not doing enough to prevent these abuses. The company's CEO, Wang Ning, stated that it was investigating the matter, but critics say more needs to be done to address the systemic issues in China's manufacturing sector.
The findings highlight the challenges faced by companies pushing into international markets while adhering to higher standards for their workers. Li Qiang, executive director of CLW, called on Pop Mart to establish grievance mechanisms, improve transparency around factory working conditions, and disclose its supply chain structure to enable meaningful oversight.
Workers at a Chinese factory that produces Labubus, the popular furry toys made by Hong Kong-listed company Pop Mart, are being subjected to exploitation and abuse, according to a report by China Labor Watch (CLW). The investigation found evidence of forced labor contracts, underage workers being employed without proper protections, inadequate health and safety training, and other serious labor rights violations.
The factory, Shunjia Toys in Xinfeng county, Jiangxi province, employs over 4,500 people and is one of the main suppliers of Labubus. CLW's researchers interviewed more than 50 employees, including three under the age of 18, who all worked exclusively on Labubus. The investigation revealed that workers were being forced to sign blank labor contracts with little understanding of their terms or conditions.
Underage workers, aged 16 and 17, were employed without special protections afforded by Chinese law, such as prohibitions on hazardous work. Despite this, they were assigned to standard assembly line positions alongside adult workers, with no difference in workload or production targets. The researchers found that the 16- to 18-year-old workers did not understand their contracts and had no clear concept of their legal status.
The investigation also revealed that workers were given unrealistic production targets, with a team of 25-30 workers required to assemble at least 4,000 Labubus per day. This exceeds the monthly overtime limit of 36 hours set by Chinese labor law, with many workers reportedly working over 100 additional hours each month.
Pop Mart has maintained that it takes the welfare and safety of its workers seriously but has been criticized for not doing enough to prevent these abuses. The company's CEO, Wang Ning, stated that it was investigating the matter, but critics say more needs to be done to address the systemic issues in China's manufacturing sector.
The findings highlight the challenges faced by companies pushing into international markets while adhering to higher standards for their workers. Li Qiang, executive director of CLW, called on Pop Mart to establish grievance mechanisms, improve transparency around factory working conditions, and disclose its supply chain structure to enable meaningful oversight.
but you know what? It's also a wake-up call for us all! We need to be more aware of where our stuff comes from and the people who make it 
. I'm not blaming Pop Mart or any other company for this, they're just trying to bring their products to us consumers 
. But we have to hold them accountable too 
.
. That's just not right! But on the bright side, organizations like China Labor Watch are doing amazing work to expose these issues and push for change 
.
. We can all learn from this and demand better from the companies we support 
. And who knows, maybe this will be a catalyst for more transparency and accountability in the industry 
!
those poor kids being forced into work without a clue what's going on, it's like a nightmare come true 
and the fact that they're getting paid peanuts or nothing at all is just disgusting 
i mean, Pop Mart is trying to be all high and mighty about their "welfare" but it's clear they're not doing enough to back it up 
4,500 workers in a factory?! that's like, a whole community in itself 
and the way they're treating those kids is just unconscionable 
Li Qiang's calling for more transparency and oversight? yeah, please 
. These poor kids being forced into labor at 16 & 17?! 
It's insane! And the fact that Pop Mart is just investigating without taking real action? Come on, CEO Wang Ning! Do your job! 
The workers are putting their lives on the line for those fluffy toy profits. What's the point of having a conscience if you're not gonna back it up?! 
I think companies need to take responsibility for ensuring that their supply chains are transparent and safe for everyone involved. We need to hold them accountable for treating their workers with dignity and respect. 
. pop mart needs to step up their game on ensuring safe working conditions and not just saying they care about it . the fact that workers are working over 100 extra hours a month is insane ... how do they even function at that pace? 
. I'm not buying the whole "we're investigating" thing from Pop Mart either... they need to do more than just slap some band-aids on this problem 
. The fact that these workers are being forced into contracts without understanding what's going on is just red flag after red flag 
. Companies like Pop Mart need to take responsibility for their supply chain and make sure workers are getting the respect and care they deserve 
.
pop mart needs to step up their game and take responsibility for what's happening 
what's next? will we be finding out about other toy factories having similar issues? 
the thought alone is giving me anxiety 
I mean, have you guys tried their bingsu? It's literally the best thing since sliced bread! 
Do you guys think companies are doing enough to protect their workers abroad? I feel like we're always hearing about one company or another getting caught up in some labor scandal... 
pop mart needs to step up their game and make sure this doesn't happen again. they can talk about taking welfare seriously but actions speak louder than words 
china labor watch is doing some serious work here 