This interview reveals the truth behind Mattel toys
This young Chinese worker anonymously investigated the working conditions at a Mattel factory. This is the hidden truth behind our favorite Christmas toys.
Laborers at several toy factories in China work without suitable protections
Barbie dolls, Fisher-Price toys, Polly Pockets. Criticized for years, the working conditions for the workers building them remain difficult. In the summer of 2019, this young Chinese worker anonymously investigated a Mattel factory in Foshan, in southeast China. During the summer, manufacturing objectives are particularly high in order to fulfill Christmas orders. Although the Chinese legislation only authorizes 36 hours of overtime per month, the workers at this factory have 110 hours of overtime during the high season. There were around 3,000 of us working at the factory.
**Conditions at a Chinese Factory **
“The working hours were 7:30 am to 7:30 pm and the night shift was 7:30 pm to 7:30 am. We had a one-hour break in the middle of the shift. We worked 6 days a week. The pay was $265 a month. We particularly made Fisher-Price toys and Thomas & friends trains too, plastic toys. In general, only the most experienced employees manage to meet the daily production goal. It’s harder for new employees to meet it. In regard to the production goal, it varies depending on the toys you’re making. The goal is 2,000 to 3,000 pieces per day,” an anonymous Foshan employee tells Brut.
Ongoing nightmare
According to the China Labor Watch and Action Aid over 288 million workers from rural areas keep these Chinese factories running. But most of them are working illegally. They aren’t supposed to leave their home region without authorization. Unlike local workers, they cannot live in the city, send their children to school, and receive medical insurance. Mattel’s own company records indicate with revenues of $4.51 billion in 2018, Mattel is one of the global leaders in the toy industry.
Brut.
24 comments
Kaelin M.
01/26/2020 04:04Capitalism
Mia M.
01/17/2020 06:42No wonder they hate us
Cameron K.
01/14/2020 16:28That's because your in a Communist country you guys are lucky enough to have some freedoms its because we USA literally fund Chinese infrastructure they are powerful because of us something we can so easily take away further more to join the Chinese government uprisings best part the Chinese government is in pickle because they know if they do genocide we Americans will cut there Infrastructure from them forcing the Chinese government to literally suffer they won't be able to fund anything they won't be able to do arms trade because they have no money they won't be able to run there military and there political leaders will have to decide to sell there land just to survive
Monica R.
01/12/2020 07:59well... that’s horrible
Alejandro S.
01/06/2020 22:35Then when people say capitalism is bad 😂
Savanna B.
01/03/2020 04:29Always buy second hand !
Miguel R.
01/01/2020 16:35Don’t buy Mattel
Raven R.
12/31/2019 07:25no more Barbie :(
Warren A.
12/29/2019 11:13China is worst of getting worst?
Ahmed R.
12/27/2019 23:15I always hated china anyway
Loressa B.
12/26/2019 21:50This is so sad
Steven D.
12/25/2019 20:33ito yung sinsabi kong brut videos la lng tlgng time magedit aha
Leslie R.
12/25/2019 19:20Renuncia y ya we
Jose C.
12/25/2019 18:44The factory is not the problem, is China with its weak regulations.
Jade D.
12/23/2019 20:38Saby Sgh
Youyou R.
12/22/2019 20:50This hurts me
Christian J.
12/22/2019 16:09😢
Kurisuchan R.
12/20/2019 23:10Oh sh*%+ mostly toys here in Philippines is made from CHINA 🇨🇳
Jake P.
12/20/2019 17:31I knew china had a falling system
Kram R.
12/19/2019 20:33Thank God Although Philippines has 7,641 Island we are allowed to go anywhere we want on the other part of our country whether we want to move, study, work, just to travel, Etc