Disney Case Highlights China Supply Chain Pitfalls

From Reuters via Earthtimes.org :

In his dim two-room flat, Huang Renzhong showed a visitor a Mickey Mouse statuette and explained how creating Disney figurines during 15-hour work days in a grim factory led to a $90,000 lawsuit.

The circumstances surrounding the case Huang filed with four colleagues last year suggest that firms such as the Walt Disney Co that outsource production to licensees are more exposed to poor labor practices than companies with more direct control over their supply chains, despite concerted efforts to stamp out labor violations.

Conditions in the factory where Huang worked in Shenzhen, a boomtown across the border from Hong Kong, were tough, and for years Disney did not even know its branded products were being made there. Huang said about 80 percent of his work was Disney-related.

Workers were threatened with the sack if they paused, even to help someone who’d fainted, Huang said. They had no insurance, slept 12 to a dorm room, and were charged for room and board.

During five years at Haowei Toys, Huang often worked from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m., or later, with breaks.

“We worked extremely long hours, but the amount they paid us was too little,” said, Huang, 39, puffing on a cigarette.

Huang and four other craftsmen decided to act after hearing media reports of workers who had won back-pay cases.

CDT EBOOKS

Subscribe to CDT

SUPPORT CDT

Browsers Unbounded by Lantern

Now, you can combat internet censorship in a new way: by toggling the switch below while browsing China Digital Times, you can provide a secure "bridge" for people who want to freely access information. This open-source project is powered by Lantern, know more about this project.

Google Ads 1

Giving Assistant

Google Ads 2

Anti-censorship Tools

Life Without Walls

Click on the image to download Firefly for circumvention

Open popup
X

Welcome back!

CDT is a non-profit media site, and we need your support. Your contribution will help us provide more translations, breaking news, and other content you love.