China's Real Toy Story

[Omaha Steve]

http://laborrightsblog.typepad.com/international_labor_right/2007/10/chinas-real-toy.html#more

Tim Newman, Campaigns Assistant, International Labor Rights Forum



Have you been following the recalls of toys produced in China? So have we! Unfortunately, much of the media coverage does not address the effect these products are having on the health of workers who produce them. Also, what about the retailers (for example, Wal-Mart) who put so much pressure on suppliers to produce cheap goods that health, environmental and labor protections get brushed aside?

For a different perspective on this hot topic, check out the testimony given by ILRF Executive Director, Bama Athreya, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today. The hearing focused on "Sweatshop Conditions in the Chinese Toy Industry."

As Bama mentions in her testimony, the sourcing policies of companies like Wal-Mart bear a lot of the responsibility for the problems in China's toy factories. Just yesterday, ILRF release a new report analyzing Wal-Mart's ethical standards and its effect on working conditions globally: find out more here!

For more about the hearing and this issue, check out this story from ABC News. We are sure you have something to say about this hot topic, so make sure to let the world know about your thoughts on companies like Wal-Mart by leaving a comment on the ABC News story -- and here too!

Finally, you can check out a report from last October by ILRF titled "Wal-Mart in China: Rolling Back Labor Rights" HERE: http://www.laborrights.org/projects/corporate/walmart/China%20Walmart%20Report102506.pdf

Several stories here have links when you go to the story.