Li Qiang’s Open Letter
Disney’s fairytales are all stories of heroes who defeat the wicked, with a prince saving the princess, and good triumphing over evil. However, these are all beautiful fairytale stories, but the truth behind the manufacture of Disney’s toys is far different.
The manufacturing process of Disney toys in China, is a process of oppressing Chinese workers. At the Zhen Yang Toy factory in Dongguan, Guangdong province, where Frozen products are manufactured, many thousands of workers labor every day for 12 hours. Some work non-stop for periods of 11 hours, with only a one hour meal and rest break in between. 16 workers share a 16 square meter dormitory room. Each floor of the dormitory building has 20 rooms. 320 workers share 24 toilets and 24 bathrooms. The bathrooms have no hot water, only cold water. There are no showerheads, and workers have to use a bucket or pan to take a bath. Workers earn 8.68RMB/hour ($1.32USD/hour), and working a total of 172 hours, this amounts to 1510RMB ($230USD). Workers are forced to work overtime every day. During the off season, workers hope to have more opportunities to work overtime. Without overtime, the base wage is insufficient to cover workers costs of living.
This factory is not the only case. Previously, China Labor Watch underwent investigations in dozens of factories which manufactured for Disney, and the working conditions were similar. As a non-governmental organization, our resources are very limited. The factories we investigate are only 0.1% of Disney’s network of 30,000 facilities involved in the production of Disney products.(This number is from the Walt Disney Company.For details please refer to the full report attached below) However, Disney often critiques us for a litany of reasons. In 2015, Disney released a letter to the public which stated: “In November 2015, China Labor Watch (CLW) raised concerns regarding five toy manufacturing facilities in China used by several leading brands – Combine Will (Donnguan) Industrial Co. Inc., Dongguan Qing Xi Juantiway Plastic Factory, Foshan City Nanhai Mattel Diecast Co. Ltd., Sturdy Precision Manufacturing (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., and Jetta (Guangzhou) Industrial Co. Ltd. We are disappointed that CLW continues its approach of withholding information about such concerns until they issue press releases months after issues are identified and does not actively engage with buyers and others that share their concern for improving labor standards in Chinese factories.”
However, this is not the case. China Labor Watch is not unwilling to cooperate with Disney. Since 2007, CLW has had face-to-face meetings with Disney on more than 10 occasions. A Disney Representative had an interview with CLW at our New York office, and CLW had many meetings with Disney’s Californian Headquarters and Hong Kong Office. Through the meetings CLW had with Disney’s executive vice president, and the Director of Labor Standards—coupled with many years of direct communication—we found that Disney lacked sincerity in their efforts to improve working conditions in their Chinese suppliers. Disney frequently criticizes our investigations, claiming that they are only single cases. However, CLW has the capacity to investigate only a very limited number of factories. Disney has not made improvements to the systemic labor rights violations of Chinese workers.
The beautiful world of Disney is merely a fairytale. The real world is one where evil has triumphed over good, and where profits triumph conscience. It is the management behind Disney who are the real villains in this world of fairytales. It is they who have created a system where management is able to oppress workers and obtain the greatest amount of economic profits. We need those who seek justice to come together and fight the villains in the world of Disney, to create a world where Disney is wholeheartedly kind and just.
Please write a letter or give a call to Disney, or speak to friends who embrace the world of Disney. Encourage them to participate in this battle with the villains of Disney.

Report Summary





Toy Brands for Which We Found Zhenyang and Lam Sun Were Manufacturing

(Spin Master, Fomasa, Bizak)
(Air Hogs, Lalaloopsy-MGA Entertainment, Sunny, Bob the builder)
(Disney Princess, Frozen, Twisted Tie Die)


(Super Wubble, 3D Coin Art)
Summary of Zhenyang



(The two photos on the left are rest room. The two on the right are shower room)





Summary of Lam Sun






(Rest room)
(From left to right: dormitory, dining hall, a rusty fire extinguisher, a worker’s hand after working for long hours)

