Chinese toy factory workers have to labour for long hours for minimum wage. Photo / China Labour Watch
Chinese toy factory workers have to labour for long hours for minimum wage. Photo / China Labour Watch
Long working hours, low pay and squalid accommodation - welcome to Santa's real workshop where your Christmas presents are made.
It is not nearly as glamorous as what you'd see in a Christmas movie.
There are no bells and whistles, smiles or elves - the reality is grim and people work like slaves in Chinese sweatshops.
China Labour Watch investigated four factories where people work 11 hours a day, six and sometimes seven days a week, often without a break, for minimum wage.
An undercover investigation into Chinese toy sweatshops in southern China's Guangdong Province discovered 10 workers were crammed in small dorm rooms and in winter could not even have warm showers.
China Labour Watch, a community-based organisation which fights for workers' rights, went into the factories undercover in April and September.
Workers at three of the four factories were only paid about $300 a month. At the other, workers were paid $400 a month. Workers from all the factories barely got to see their families.
According to Chinese Labour Law, labourers are not allowed to work more than eight hours a day but can work overtime in some circumstances. However, a labourer can't work more than 36 hours of overtime a month.
"We found that the average working hours in these four factories was 11 hours a day, with more than 50 overtime hours a month, and at half of the factories, overtime hours had reached 100 hours," a Chinese Labour Watch report said.
The dirty bedrooms where factory workers sleep. Photo / China Labour Watch
"Moreover, the extremely high production requirements left workers with barely any time to rest. "During the 11 hours that workers put in within a day, all they had was a 40 to 60 minute lunch break. This is an obvious violation of the right of workers' to have adequate rest."
The Chinese workers barely see their families and live in accommodation attached to sweatshops.
They're living in filth, with electrical wiring covering the floor.
At least 14 people share a shower and toilet and there's one cafeteria where they can buy food, which lacks nutrition.
If workers aren't given enough food and are still hungry, they are not allowed to have any more.
Toy Factory that makes toys for Mattel in Dongguan. Photo / China Labour Watch
"We can't tolerate that children's dreams are based on workers' nightmares," the report said. "Any toy that is manufactured in China is a process where workers' rights have been infringed upon.
"Workers in toy factories face heavy workloads every day, but only earn an extremely low wage. They have children as well. But after years of separation, when the workers finally return home with various illness or occupational injuries, who will protect the dream of their children?"
Many workers stuck in the sweatshops celebrate their birthdays and some factories organise parties for them.
They were "gifted" a lump of paper towel, according to China Labour Watch. New employees were also given a yogurt as a present.
Factory workers gather to eat their dinner. Photo / China Labour Watch
Each factory had production targets and in the assembly department, workers must assemble 4000 toys a day.
Workers said they could not stop at all during their shift in order to meet the target.
They are exposed to dangerous chemicals daily and those who work in the spray painting department work with isoamyl acetate, also known as banana oil.
The workers don't have much protective equipment, and exposure to high concentrations of banana oil can cause headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and fatigue.
Regular exposure to high concentrations of the chemical can even cause skin to crack.
During the 11 hours that workers put in within a day, all they had was a 40 to 60 minute lunch break. This is an obvious violation of the right of workers' to have adequate rest.
It can also damage the lungs and central nervous system. According to China Labour Watch, workers were never told about the dangers of being exposed to the chemical.
Workers weren't provided with gloves, glasses or masks to protect them.
Worker Li Jintato told VOA News he left his home village when he was just 14 and got a job at a toy factory. His monthly wage covers two or three hours of overtime, but he is owed much more.
"The wages are too low. My monthly salary is $360, but after deductions for social security, I make only a little more than $292 per month," he said.
McDonalds purchases its toys from Combine Will, a factory investigated by China Labour Watch, and the fast food giant told news.com.au it took the allegations of poor working conditions very seriously.
"We are committed to ensuring fair and ethical workplace standards in every corner of our supply chain. We are working closely with the International Council of Toy Industries in their investigation as well as overseeing a thorough review of these allegations and will swiftly and effectively address any issues that are identified," a spokesperson said.
Mattel and Disney did not respond to news.com.au's inquiries.
