4. Case study: Top Toy, Brio and Coop in China - Swedwatch

each wages of 78 – 87 Euro during the peak season, sometimes even 97 Euro. The minimum
wages of 43 Euro are guaranteed even during the off peak season.
She herself thinks that she does not have anything to complain about.
Codes of conduct and social inspections
The workers know that Mattel undertake social inspections five to six times a year. When the
inspectors arrive, parts of the labour force are urged to leave factory A. The factory
management teaches the remaining workers the answers they shall give if they get any
questions. They are rewarded 2,9 Euro if they give the ”correct” answers. An employee tells
us that newly employed workers usually are sent away when the buyers are expected. The
workers that are left all have contracts, which are distributed before the arrival of the
inspectors and are recollected again when they have left.
At factory B the workers maintain that they have social inspections about four to five times a
year. Before the arrival of the inspectors, 400 – 500 workers are sent to the local cinema or in
some other way away from the factory area. When the inspectors have left again, they are
ordered to come back to continue their job. They are also ordered to pack their belongings in
the dormitories so that it looks like as if there are fewer workers at the factory than there is.
The labour management tells the workers who are left what answers they shall give. They
receive 2,9 - 4,8 Euro if they give the ”correct” answer. The workers maintain that they are
extremely tense during these inspections.
– We don't understand anything. Nobody could tell the truth. When we are working at the
factory we in a way belong to the factory. It wouldn't do us any good if we told the truth. We
can't afford to upset our manager, a young man who works at factory B tells HKCIC.
Would you dare to tell the truth?
– Of course not, he replies.
Violation against the codes/the legislation according to the interviews:
• Too long working hours
• Work seven days a week during peak season
• Don't give any minimum wage guarantees
• Wrong overtime compensation
• Insufficient insurances
• No health examinations
• No health and safety education
• Cheating at the inspections
Supplier H
The factory is located in Shenzhen and has about 3000 - 6000 workers who manufacture
plastic dolls for among others Coop. The factory is partly certified in accordance with the
social standards, SA8000. At the certified departments the employees have the SA8000
symbol on their ID badges. There is a strong separation between workers belonging to the
SA8000-certified workplaces and the others, according to the HKCIC study.
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