Cheap Goods, Cheap Labor
Posted by SCapozzola on September 12th, 2007A new report on workplace conditions in China finds that a factory making Disney toys routinely overworked its employees and exposed them to toxic conditions.
The squalid conditions of the workplace, as well as the bathrooms and living areas, came in for particular scrutiny, with workers complaining about poor ventilation of fumes in paint spraying rooms.
The workers do not receive either pensions or insurance for workplace injuries and are fined for both refusal to work overtime or taking bathroom breaks that exceed five minutes.
As reports of unsafe Chinese products continue to appear in the U.S. media, it’s important to note the unsafe conditions in which they’re made. Substandard labor conditions help to produce inexpensive Chinese goods.
When you add up illegal practices like currency manipulation, and low-wage, high-risk labor, you begin to understand why China can manufacture Disney toys so cheaply.
When Americans buy goods marked MADE IN CHINA they should be aware of exactly what they’re getting for their money.
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September 17th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
[…] has previously noted that production outsourced to China typically utilizes a corner-cutting, low-cost approach. And since lead-based paint costs less than lead-free paint, some Chinese factories have found it […]