Toy factory reported to have sweatshop conditions

As reported by the Institute for Global labour and Human Rights.

Since this is a Chinese factory, it's not all too surprising this case is occurring. Similar cases have popped up before. I don't think it's even limited to toys. However, this specific instance of sweatshop toy factory has a very detailed report, over 30 pages. The quoted bit is just the executive summary. This horrible condition the workers suffer is a violation of Hasbro's stated principles of ethics, and well, laws.

A few things to keep in mind:

1. Given the source, the report appears to be legit See posts 14, 21 and 26. The writer of the report does not seem to be somebody reputable, although the photos inside the report itself look real.
2. Despite how the report throws around words like "Hasbro's employees", the factory itself is not actually owned by Hasbro. As mentioned in the report, the factory produces toys for other companies, not just Hasbro.
3. Not to say that Hasbro should be free from blame, as they are using this factory for profit. It's just that they aren't the ones running the factory. It's really one of many that they contracted with to manufacture their toys.

edited 22nd Dec '11 5:51:31 PM by ThatHuman

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Fucking sweatshops. >_<

I am now known as Flyboy.

Just one more grain of sand on a beach of reasons why I don't like global commerce. Miccrosoft gets a number of products from sweatshops like this, for example. The one I read about was computer mice.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

Now cue Hasbro making a big public apology and statement to change ... followed by continued payment to the sweatshop for toys.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

Yeah... business as usual.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

Right, I don't see the problem, I never have, it's cheap so that means the final product is cheap, and people complain about having to spend less?

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...

I am now known as Flyboy.

Uh, we generally don't feel good knowing that people had to suffer to make the things we use.

"Hipsters: the most dangerous gang in the US." - Pacific Mackerel

That's not what we're complaining about at all.

My gripe is: They're treated like crap. We're addicted to cheap goods made in China (and elsewhere). We demand fair worker compensatio here, but hypocritically don't care as a whole that our cheap gooods have to be made with a human price elsewhere. Corporations pay lip-service to these things, and the cycle continues.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

Okay, just to clarify, I do always go for the product that's been made fairly, I hate sweatshops but I can't do nowt about them, so I stopped caring.

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Ah, but you are doing something - you're not buying the cheaply-made good. You're not giving yoru money to help perpetuate the system.

Yeah, it's like trying to toss starfish out to sea after the tide goes out. There's so many that you might as well not bother, but that one starfish you tossed back sure is grateful...

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

Yeah, what pvt said. Also, if news of this particular case spreads out enough, there could be enough bad PR that something has to be done. Although, it might just mean Hasbro pulling out of this one factory.

edited 22nd Dec '11 1:32:22 PM by ThatHuman

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It's another failing of global capitalism. Such brazen exploitation is saddening to see.

Hmm, I just found out something about the report. it was written by Charles Kernaghan. As in, this guy:

I am not sure what this means for the report itself. Hopefully, somebody will do more digging in and clear this up.

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@Pvtnum: Its not global commerce to blame. Its that companies can make scads more profit by taking advantage of countries where basic human and workers rights laws dont exist.

This is a pretty disgusting opinion for anyone to have.

To the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.

To be fair. its kind of how it works. People complain constantly about outsourcing jobs to other countries, but they'd be even madder if their tshirts from walmart cost 40 dollars.

Doesn't make it less terrible.

To the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.

Actually, it's still cheap to make them here, and there still is a profit at low prices.

"Dr. Strangeloid, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Cleanlink" - thespacephantom

Also: seconding Culex.

Given that the profit margin on the item is probably far greater then what it should be, paying the sweatshop marker a little more then piss-all wouldn't have a great impact on the cost of the product.

Unless, of course, the business owners forced the cost onto the customers.

So, yeah. I wanna restate post #14. I'm not sure if I was clear enough...

Basically, since the guy behind the report has done crap like insisting that a factory for the Kardashian clothing items uses child slave labor.. despite having never actually seen that factory, I myself am becoming uncertain about the legitimacy of the report.

something

Yes, but this report has pictures and quotes from workers, along with accurate measurements of conditions, what about the Kardashian one?

"Dr. Strangeloid, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Cleanlink" - thespacephantom

There's been some suspicion that this one is a clever fabrication, I mean. When you consider at the article on the Kardashian thing, the guy might not be somebody to completely trust. I think the suspicion is that this might be an elaborate hoax to condemn actual sweatshops in China. I'm not sure what to believe about this specific case anymore.

edited 22nd Dec '11 4:50:03 PM by ThatHuman

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But still, those are different cases, that Kardashian was an admitted assumption which was clearly different from this one. There's no evidence that this is false and it brings up plenty of evidence to support itself.

"Dr. Strangeloid, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Cleanlink" - thespacephantom

HOW IS THIS NEWS TO ANYBODY?! It's frickin China, their famous for this. I'm impressed it's not a prison camp making them.

I'm baaaaaaack