"But beyond their sky-high resale price, the viral collectibles may come with a steep humanitarian cost as well. As The Guardian reports, New York-based labor rights group China Labor Watch (CLW) has accused the toys' maker, Chinese toy manufacturer Pop Mart, of employing 16- and 17-year-olds without offering them the necessary labor protections required by Chinese law. The group also alleges that these young workers aren't given adequate health and safety training, among other labor rights violations at the company's factory in Jiangxi province."
"The facility employs more than 4,500 workers and is a "key supplier" for Pop Mart's Labubus, according to CLW. As detailed in a press release, the non-governmental organization sent representatives to the factory last year for an investigation and identified "key labor issues" through "on-site worker interviews and document review." The group's investigation found "no labor union or effective grievance mechanism, alongside widespread reports of bullying by management, verbal sexual harassment, and worker concerns regarding living and dining conditions.""
Labubus collectibles have created a booming secondary market, with blind boxes reselling from $20 to as much as $10,000. China Labor Watch investigated a Pop Mart supplier factory in Jiangxi province that employs over 4,500 workers and serves as a key supplier for Labubus. The investigation found employment of 16- and 17-year-olds without legally required protections, insufficient health and safety training, and other labor rights violations. Investigators identified absence of a labor union or effective grievance mechanism, reports of managerial bullying and verbal sexual harassment, poor living and dining conditions, and underage workers who did not understand the contracts they signed. The NGO urged immediate corrective action and fair compensation.
Read at Futurism
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]