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

SwedWatch was not allowed to visit the factory since the common policy of the supplier was
not to allow any filming. The information below builds entirely on HKCIC interviews with
employees outside the factory.
Working hours
The factory has an eight-hour regular working time as well as three to four hours overtime
during the peak season. They always have one day off a week and two days off during the off
peak season.
Wages
The employer pays piecework wages. According to the workers the monthly wages amount to
68 – 87 Euro during the peak season and 58 – 68 Euro during the off peak season. The
employees have a minimum wages guarantee, i.e. 45 Euro. The peak season runs from May to
October. During the off peak season during November to January the workers get “time off”
since there is not that much to do.
Other working conditions
The workers receive one-year contracts in writing. The employees can leave the company
with a 15 days' notice.
Housing
14,4 Euro is deducted from the wages for those workers who sleep in the factory dormitories
and who have the meals offered in the canteen.
Insurance
The workers who work at SA8000-certified departments are covered by pension insurances,
while those who do not work there, lack pension insurances. The workers who were
interviewed did not know if they were covered by the statutory accident insurance and
therefore did not know if they would get any compensation in case of an accident.
Health and safety
The workers receive a three days education on factory rules, fire drills, safety information,
and policies, among other things. The workers go through health examinations when they start
and then receive these regularly in order to check if they get any work related injuries. In the
roto moulding department, hearing tests are carried out on a regular basis. The workers
however have to pay for the health examinations themselves.
Trade unions and co-decision
According to the workers, there is no trade union or other organisation that represent their
interest at the workplace.
Complaints
The workers complain about the orders being allocated unevenly throughout the year, which
means that the wages vary significantly throughout the year. Those interviewed complain
about the wages being too low during the off peak season since the mayor parts of the wages
then have to be used for food and housing.
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