The REAL Toy Story: Chinese factory workers forced to sleep among piles of doll parts as they churn

out
Christmas presents
With the demand to produce toys in time for Christmas, Chinese factory workers are being forced to work long hours and sleep
on factory floors, among piles of doll parts.
In recent years, human rights campaigners have frequently raised concerns over the conditions of Chinese factory workers who
make an estimated 1! a month. " report in #!1! showed that the average monthly salary, including overtime, for a migrant
worker was estimated to be $ust 1!. "cross China there are an estimated %,!!! toy&making factories employing '. million
people.
"ccording to (ew )ork&based China *abor Watch, Chinese factory workers often work an e+tra ',. hours a week but are paid
only - per cent of the minimum wage. .he non&profit organisation that assesses production factories say that while conditions
have improved for workers after factories implemented a code of conduct, the abuses still continue.
" report in #!!- revealed that one million Chinese factory workers suffered industrial accidents in that year alone.
In #!1!, human rights organisation the (ational *abour Committee released photos of workers asleep on their stations making
computer mice and web cams for an "merican multinational computer company. /mployed for gruelling 1&hour shifts, in
appalling conditions and %,f heat, many fall asleep on their stations during their meagre ten&minute breaks. 0or as little as '1p an
hour, the men and women work si+ or seven days a week at the 2)/ 3ystems factory at 4ongguan, China. "ccording to (*C, the
mostly female workers, aged 1% to #, work from 5.1am to 1!.pm, sometimes with 1,!!! workers crammed into one 1!ft by
1!ft room. .hey are not allowed to talk or listen to music, are forced to eat substandard meals from the factory cafeterias, have
no bathroom breaks during their shifts and must clean the toilets as discipline, according to the (*C. .he workers also sleep on
site, in factory dormitories, with 11 workers to a room. .hey must buy their own mattresses and bedding, or else sleep on #%in&
wide plywood boards. .hey 6shower6 with a sponge and a bucket.
3amsung also came under fire last month after it was claimed that employees at one of its suppliers are made to work up to 1,
hours a day, with only one day6s rest a month. .he claim will pile pressure on the 3outh 2orean electronics giant to address
working practices after it admitted e+cessive overtime and fines for employees in China. 3amsung, which is the world6s largest
maker of mobile phones and televisions, said that a review of 1! of its Chinese suppliers & involving more than ,,!!!
employees & found illegal work practices, but said the companies involved would be given two more years to change their ways.
China *abor Watch said employees at one of 3amsung6s suppliers sometimes worked up to 1, hours a day, and were given $ust
one day off each month.
7erman photographer 8ichael Wolf took some photos during visits to five factories in mainland China. Wolf decided to e+hibit his
photos surrounded by 1,,!!! second hand toys he purchased from flea markets and stores around California, in "merica. .he
toys were shipped back to his studio in 9ong 2ong where the back of each one was sanded down so he could attach a magnet. It
took three people 1! hours per day for three days to install the toys on an e+hibiting wall. .he pro$ect involved 1! cans of black
spray paint, 1,!!! magnets and 1m sq of wall space.
3ource: http:;;www.dailymail.co.uk;news;article&##1!,,;<eal&.oy&3tory&.he&Chinese&factory&workers&forced&sleep&factory&
floors.html
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