Coming up short: Chinese toy manufacturer labor standards
Nongovernment organizations in Hong Kong released fresh research this week regarding labor issues in southern China's toy manufacturing industry. Research revealed shortcomings in the toy industry that prevent compliance with the voluntary codes of conduct that name-brand companies are advocating.
Toy manufacturers in China's southern provinces supply almost 70 percent of the world's toys, including products for major U.S. brand-name companies such as Mattel, Hasbro, Disney and fast-food giant McDonald's. The export trade is estimated to exceed $7.5 billion annually.