Group Finds China Toy Factory Conditions "Brutal"

It is these very same terrible working conditions which lure so many western corporations to China. Such repression means big profits for multi-national corporations. Governments in the U.S. and elsewhere remain silent because they've been bought-off by the lobbyists for those same corporations:

A U.S.-based workers' rights group said it found "brutal conditions" and labor violations at eight Chinese plants that make toys for big multinationals, and called on the companies to take steps for better standards.

China Labor Watch said in a report issued on Tuesday after several months of investigation that the manufacturers -- which served a handful of global players, including Disney, Bandai and Hasbro -- paid "little heed to the most basic standards of the country."

"Wages are low, benefits are non-existent, work environments are dangerous and living conditions are humiliating," it said.

And it is this indifference that endangers our food supply and calls in to question the safety of the products being imported from China:

The report comes as Chinese exports are under growing scrutiny abroad over safety concerns a week after Mattel Inc recalled millions of toys, including 436,000 die-cast toy cars from its "Cars" line, because they may contain excessive amounts of lead.

China has also been hauled over the coals for the safety of food, drugs and other exports ranging from tires to toothpaste. Officials have been quick to say that the vast majority of the country's exports meet standards.

The report concluded that "short-sighted policies" drive major companies to "turn a blind eye to safety -- and to ignore the labor conditions in their supplier factories as well."

Rather than shrugging your shoulders, you can do something about it: boycott made in China products. That can be a little difficult since seemingly almost everything is made in that country. You don't have to be puritanical about it. Simply make a show of it. It should be more symbolic than anything. The goal is to create awareness and force the government into action. More in the future on this.