0:00:05.546,0:00:07.745 How many days a week do you work? 0:00:07.745,0:00:10.013 Seven days. 0:00:10.013,0:00:14.283 We start half past six in the morning and work till midnight. 0:00:14.283,0:00:18.658 Then we do overtime work until two or four am. 0:00:18.658,0:00:21.762 What toys are produced at the factory? 0:00:21.762,0:00:40.445 Dolls and dogs for Disney. 0:00:40.445,0:00:51.513 TITLE: Santa's workshop 0:00:51.513,0:00:54.159 When you buy a toy, what do you think about? 0:00:54.159,0:00:59.261 It should be funny… and nice. 0:00:59.261,0:01:03.333 Where do you think the toys are produced? 0:01:03.333,0:01:05.802 In other countries… 0:01:05.802,0:01:08.164 In Santa's workshop. 0:01:08.164,0:01:14.966 In some Asian country, by far too young… children perhaps, I don't know. 0:01:14.966,0:01:21.250 Halloween has, as you know, come from the USA and it's here to stay. 0:01:21.250,0:01:23.795 It's more popular than anything else. 0:01:23.795,0:01:26.192 Masks are one item. 0:01:26.192,0:01:30.498 Here the Chinese have given it som extra thought 0:01:30.498,0:01:32.467 and put some LED lights in it to light it up. 0:01:32.467,0:01:36.603 What wages do those working in the production get? 0:01:36.603,0:01:38.436 TEXT: Stefan Risberg. Managing Director, Toyman 0:01:38.436,0:01:41.386 In China it is… The labour is cheap 0:01:41.386,0:01:45.050 otherwise the production would never be located there. 0:01:45.050,0:01:46.917 So of course it's like that. 0:01:46.917,0:01:50.508 If it is something to save and live from when you get old? I don't think so. 0:01:50.508,0:01:53.089 How much of these toys are produced in China? 0:01:53.089,0:02:00.297 In the autumn range 95% comes from China. 0:02:00.297,0:02:06.831 In Europe we spend more than 20,000 billion dollars on toys and games every year. 0:02:06.831,0:02:10.464 A large part of these toys are bought at christmas time. 0:02:10.464,0:02:13.287 But who makes these toys? 0:02:13.287,0:02:18.910 When I was younger I found out that McDonald's toys where made by children. 0:02:18.910,0:02:22.716 After that I didn't want them any more, since other children made them. 0:02:22.716,0:02:25.570 I thought it was adults, or a machine, that made them. 0:02:25.570,0:02:30.971 So I don't want McDonalds toys. Otherwise I'd keep buying them. 0:02:30.971,0:02:39.179 In August 2000 it was revealed that one of the factories making toys for McDonalds employed child labour. 0:02:39.179,0:02:43.194 The factory was situated in China, where most of the worlds toys are made. 0:02:43.194,0:02:52.300 We decided to go there and investigate the current conditions in the toy factories. 0:02:52.300,0:02:55.134 Here in Hong Kong we met one of those who exposed 0:02:55.134,0:02:59.471 the poor working conditions at the McDonalds supplier. 0:02:59.471,0:03:06.806 His name is Perry, and he has studied conditions in the toy industry for several years. 0:03:06.806,0:03:12.049 This is Hong Kong, and what you can see here is the Victoria Harbor. 0:03:12.049,0:03:18.030 And opposite side of here is the central business district of Hong Kong. 0:03:18.030,0:03:22.973 All the big toy companies all have their offices here. 0:03:22.973,0:03:29.176 Formerly a British colony, Hong Kong was reunited with China in 1997. 0:03:29.176,0:03:32.140 Hong Kong still retains a degree of autonomy, 0:03:32.140,0:03:36.079 enjoying more freedom and democracy than the rest of China. 0:03:36.079,0:03:40.058 Here toys are sold to buyers from all over the world. 0:03:40.058,0:03:43.799 The pirate ship is very popular in Sweden. 0:03:43.799,0:03:45.654 In what shops can you find it? 0:03:45.654,0:03:48.093 Is there any BR shop in Sweden? 0:03:48.093,0:03:49.391 Yes 0:03:49.391,0:03:53.464 Or ICA? I C A, yeah? 0:03:53.464,0:03:55.173 TEXT: Charles Cheng. Sales Manager. 0:03:55.173,0:03:56.501 And Åhléns as well. 0:03:56.501,0:03:58.668 What sort of things are the buyers interested in? 0:03:58.668,0:04:00.871 Buyers are interested in pricing. 0:04:00.871,0:04:08.240 The deals are done in Hong Kong but production is contracted out to factories employing millions of people on mainland China 0:04:08.240,0:04:12.017 We have to understand what is the impact for the worker 0:04:12.017,0:04:15.853 The first impressions may be that the workers can get a job 0:04:15.853,0:04:18.191 It's is better than to be unemployed 0:04:18.191,0:04:23.216 But we have to ask what kind of job they can have 0:04:23.216,0:04:29.666 Is it a decent one? Will it help their life or help their family? 0:04:29.666,0:04:38.173 Or the kind of job that can make their life even worse? 0:04:38.173,0:04:44.306 An hour's drive from Hong Kong takes us to Shenzhen, the nearest town on mainland China 0:04:44.306,0:04:47.306 We are traveling as tourists because the Chinese authorities would never 0:04:47.306,0:04:51.724 give us permission to film as we intend to 0:04:51.724,0:04:54.722 Development has progressed very quickly here 0:04:54.722,0:05:00.220 25 years ago there were only fields and small villages in this region 0:05:00.220,0:05:03.303 This is where most of what we buy is manufactured 0:05:03.303,0:05:09.873 From clothes and shoes to games, computers and toys 0:05:09.873,0:05:12.303 We took good time in preparing our visit here 0:05:12.303,0:05:14.222 and we were able to obtain permission 0:05:14.222,0:05:19.158 from some Scandinavian toy companies to film in some factories 0:05:19.158,0:05:21.419 The companies themselves chose the factories 0:05:21.419,0:05:26.405 in which we were permitted to film 0:05:26.405,0:05:30.168 In this factory, they make plastic toys and toy vehicles for many companies 0:05:30.168,0:05:33.431 across Europe including the Scandivanian companies 0:05:33.431,0:05:43.765 Inca, Top-Toy and Orleans 0:05:43.765,0:05:45.469 How hot is the material? 0:05:45.469,0:05:50.559 The plastic material is around 200 degrees Celsius 0:05:50.559,0:05:53.126 So that's why it's so hot in here? 0:05:53.126,0:05:55.853 The environment is very hot. 0:05:55.853,0:06:02.675 But in the summertime the temperature of this workshop is higher 0:06:02.675,0:06:05.635 It becomes even hotter when we enter the departments 0:06:05.635,0:06:07.642 where the toy vehicle parts are cast. 0:06:07.642,0:06:14.207 The air is stifling and it is difficult to breathe. 0:06:14.207,0:06:16.339 A note posted on a wall warns of our visit 0:06:16.339,0:06:18.687 and workers are told to remove any scrap 0:06:18.687,0:06:23.056 that may block the walkways before our arrival 0:06:23.056,0:06:25.526 It's mostly women workers. How many percent? 0:06:25.526,0:06:30.922 Women workers - more than 90% in our factory. 0:06:30.922,0:06:39.391 - Why? - Because they are easy to manage. 0:06:39.391,0:06:44.708 Mostly the workers come from far away provinces of China. 0:06:44.708,0:06:47.585 - Why? - Because in these provinces 0:06:47.585,0:06:50.950 people are poor. 0:06:50.950,0:06:55.090 Therefore they have no choice but to come here to get better wages. 0:06:55.090,0:07:01.026 How many of your 2000 workers are migrant workers from the North? 0:07:01.026,0:07:05.300 Mostly they come from the far away provinces. 0:07:05.300,0:07:13.163 No local residents. 0:07:13.163,0:07:15.198 We cannot interview workers 0:07:15.198,0:07:17.275 because it may cause problems for them. 0:07:17.275,0:07:21.605 Instead, the Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee which exposed Mcdonald's 0:07:21.605,0:07:25.677 conducts covert interviews with anonymous workers 0:07:25.677,0:07:31.639 from a number of factories 0:07:31.639,0:07:33.658 Are you gauranteed minimum wages? 0:07:33.658,0:07:38.722 No, we get paid for how fact we work - no minimum wage. 0:07:38.722,0:07:44.639 Those who work the slowest earn about 300 yuan. 0:07:44.639,0:07:49.042 If you work fast you can earn 400-500 yuan. 0:07:49.042,0:07:53.578 What do you earn per month when you do a lot of overtime work? 0:07:53.578,0:07:57.969 Most often 700-800 yuan if you work a lot of overtime. 0:07:57.969,0:08:07.218 - Do you work late? - Often till 10 or 11 pm. 0:08:07.218,0:08:10.719 What this worker describes violates both Chinese law 0:08:10.719,0:08:13.774 and the ethical codes of the Scandinavian companies. 0:08:13.774,0:08:16.829 TEXT: AKE NATT OCH DAG, Quality Control Manager, Coop 0:08:16.829,0:08:19.886 We have written in our policy 0:08:19.886,0:08:21.472 that one should be entitled to one free day a week. 0:08:21.472,0:08:24.973 And one cannot exceed local... 0:08:24.973,0:08:31.558 ... local regulations on maximum working hours. 0:08:31.558,0:08:37.023 It will become more obvious that these rules are not applied. 0:08:37.023,0:08:38.475 Here, the Swedish and Chinese flags 0:08:38.475,0:08:41.523 are flown side by side as the Swedish company Brio 0:08:41.523,0:08:47.472 is one of the factory's biggest customers. 0:08:47.472,0:08:48.964 TEXT: TOMAS PERSON - Managing Director, Brio 0:08:48.964,0:08:50.591 Now that we are trading with China 0:08:50.591,0:08:52.801 we must activate vigorous control systems. 0:08:52.801,0:08:54.877 Otherwise it may damage the image. 0:08:54.877,0:08:56.953 We question how Brio check 0:08:56.953,0:09:00.339 the working conditions here. 0:09:00.339,0:09:03.725 Have Brio been here? 0:09:03.725,0:09:07.111 Yeah, they have been here quite a few times. 0:09:07.111,0:09:11.853 What are they interested in when they come to the factory? 0:09:11.853,0:09:15.862 Well, basically they are looking for new products and making some new sets. 0:09:15.862,0:09:21.800 Just telling what's the market situation. 0:09:21.800,0:09:25.439 Through covert interviews we learn that they are often forced to work 0:09:25.439,0:09:29.267 14 hours a day 7 days a week. 0:09:29.267,0:09:39.443 This is illegal and in breach of Brio's rules. 0:09:39.443,0:09:42.886 Just like in the garment industries or in the footware industries sometimes 0:09:42.886,0:09:46.220 during the peak season workers have to work overtime. 0:09:46.220,0:09:48.527 We check in some factories in the peak season when 0:09:48.527,0:09:51.909 demand in the United States or in Europe is bad. 0:09:51.909,0:09:55.719 And then they suddenly place an order to the factories with a short lead time. 0:09:55.719,0:10:04.634 In this case the workers are asked to do overtime continuously for several days. 0:10:04.634,0:10:10.750 And sometimes they even cannot sleep at night. 0:10:10.750,0:10:11.845 - Do you ever work all night? 0:10:11.845,0:10:16.079 Yes, sometimes. We have no choice. We work till dawn. 0:10:16.079,0:10:24.197 When you work all night you become dizzy and your eyes hurt - 0:10:24.197,0:10:36.164 - because you cannot take any breaks. 0:10:36.164,0:10:39.335 During the lunch break at Mr. Li's factory 0:10:39.335,0:10:42.078 two women support another woman who has just fainted. 0:10:42.078,0:10:47.076 Some of the workers want to save money so they don't eat breakfast. 0:10:47.076,0:10:50.802 After a long at work they get very tired and then feel uncon... 0:10:50.802,0:10:53.223 ... some sickness only. 0:10:53.223,0:10:58.221 No big deal. They recover very quickly. 0:10:58.221,0:11:00.385 So they want to save. 0:11:00.385,0:11:02.890 You said that breakfast was 1 yuan. 0:11:02.890,0:11:07.217 Not expensive. But some of them want to save more money. 0:11:07.217,0:11:12.057 They prefer no holiday. They prefer to continue working. 0:11:12.057,0:11:15.838 Maybe actually they prefer better wages. They don't prefer to work all the time. 0:11:15.838,0:11:19.855 Oh, this is not a reasonable request. 0:11:19.855,0:11:29.142 This is not good thinking to work less get more money. 0:11:29.142,0:11:31.379 Through an underground organization in China 0:11:31.379,0:11:34.890 we at last get the chance to interview some workers. 0:11:34.890,0:11:38.650 We meet them one evening in a windowless room. 0:11:38.650,0:11:42.333 We may film them but we cannot show their faces fully. 0:11:42.333,0:11:50.599 They work in the electronics industry where working conditions are similar to those in the toy industry. 0:11:50.599,0:11:52.856 How much overtime do you work per month? 0:11:52.856,0:11:55.221 130-140 hours. 0:11:55.221,0:11:57.083 We must also rest. 0:11:57.083,0:12:00.852 We cannot work overtime every day. 0:12:00.852,0:12:03.996 Not even those who want to can do that. 0:12:03.996,0:12:12.090 If you got higher wages, would you still want to work overtime? 0:12:12.090,0:12:14.614 No, I wouldn't! 0:12:14.614,0:12:17.138 TEXT: LARS GJOERUP, Managing Director, Top Toy Hong Kong 0:12:17.138,0:12:19.662 To be very honest, the general complaint we get is 0:12:19.662,0:12:24.141 when we talk of the makeup of some workers is that they are not very happy about 0:12:24.141,0:12:25.751 the limit on overtime during the peak season. 0:12:25.751,0:12:30.512 Top Toy, a Danish company that runs BR-Legetøj and Toys R Us in Scandinavia 0:12:30.512,0:12:37.818 they seem to be unable to see any connection between the low wages and the workers' willingness to work overtime 0:12:37.818,0:12:40.166 So, why do you think they want to work overtime? 0:12:40.166,0:12:43.390 Because they can earn more money. 0:12:43.390,0:12:44.930 So do you think they make a living wage 0:12:44.930,0:12:47.377 on their normal 8-hours day? 0:12:47.377,0:12:51.392 You know the living cost in the factories are covered by dormitories, by food, by health care. 0:12:51.392,0:12:57.108 So if a worker really want, they can probably stay in the factory and feel safe. 0:12:57.108,0:12:59.845 In the factories there are dormatories and the canteens 0:12:59.845,0:13:03.183 where almost all migrant workers sleep and eat. 0:13:03.183,0:13:07.390 The low wages render other options impossible. 0:13:07.390,0:13:12.553 Workers have a choice to stay inside the factories or outside the factories. 0:13:12.553,0:13:17.723 ??? This should be their choice. 0:13:17.723,0:13:21.549 The workers live in cramped quarters 0:13:21.549,0:13:24.181 often twelve to twenty in a room. 0:13:24.181,0:13:30.108 The only storage for private possessions is in their beds. 0:13:30.108,0:13:33.974 Wages have, in principle, remained unchanged for several years 0:13:33.974,0:13:38.861 while prices in this region have gone up by several hundred per cent. 0:13:38.861,0:13:43.418 As a result, workers are forced to live their lives inside the factories. 0:13:43.418,0:13:50.938 Their wages wouldn't last long outside the factory walls. 0:13:50.938,0:13:54.862 In some of the factories we visited the working environment is very poor. 0:13:54.862,0:13:56.163 0:13:56.163,0:13:58.199 Often the noise level is very high 0:13:58.199,0:14:00.142 and only a few workers have ear muffs. 0:14:00.142,0:14:03.910 Protective equipment is inadequate or even nonexistent. 0:14:03.910,0:14:06.407 Workers tell us that they burn and cut themselves 0:14:06.407,0:14:09.473 and their arms are marked with scars 0:14:09.473,0:14:12.581 The more serious problem is that they damage their health very much. 0:14:12.581,0:14:15.286 Sometimes it's not about a problem with the machine 0:14:15.286,0:14:18.162 but it's because workers have to work for long hours 0:14:18.162,0:14:20.467 and they cannot concentrate on their work and they make mistakes 0:14:20.467,0:14:24.302 and they hurt themselves. 0:14:24.302,0:14:26.771 What accidents can happen? 0:14:26.771,0:14:30.909 Sometimes the workers get very tired and forgetful - 0:14:30.909,0:14:35.006 - and when there is a manual operation they may neglect to 0:14:35.006,0:14:42.390 pull away the arm and then the door closes suddenly 0:14:42.390,0:14:44.050 This is the problem. 0:14:44.050,0:14:47.133 - What injuries does that cause? 0:14:47.133,0:14:50.163 Hurting the fingers or something similar 0:14:50.163,0:14:57.857 Sometimes they burn their skin also due to the very hot plastic materials. 0:14:57.857,0:15:01.136 Amongst the most serious accidents that occur are fires. 0:15:01.136,0:15:19.595 The worst factory fire to date occurred in a toy factory in Thailand. 0:15:19.595,0:15:25.423 On the 10th of May 1993 hundreds of young workers were trapped in a fire 0:15:25.423,0:15:28.967 because emergency exits were blocked. 0:15:28.967,0:15:33.671 Although the factory was several stories high there were no fire escapes. 0:15:33.671,0:15:39.944 188 people died and 469 were injured, most of them young women. 0:15:39.944,0:15:45.141 The fire broke out at night when everyone was leaving. 0:15:45.141,0:15:49.717 When the smoke started everyone ran and trampled one another 0:15:49.717,0:15:53.469 because they could not get out through the doors. 0:15:53.469,0:15:55.892 I could not see the ground 0:15:55.892,0:16:03.261 - but I thought I have to jump if I'm going to survive. 0:16:03.261,0:16:06.890 One of my friends was pregnant. 0:16:06.890,0:16:10.268 She could not get out and she was buried in the flames. 0:16:10.268,0:16:17.474 If the factory had escape ladders and good fire alarms - 0:16:17.474,0:16:24.516 - a tragedy like this would not have happened. 0:16:24.516,0:16:29.514 In November that year a similar accident occurred in Scenzhen in China. 0:16:29.514,0:16:31.878 The fires attracted worldwide attention 0:16:31.878,0:16:40.307 and the pressure on companies to show their responsibility for health, safety and working conditions mounted. 0:16:40.307,0:16:46.500 The companies must think of the employee's life and their rights. 0:16:46.500,0:16:52.918 Not just make big profits and then leave 0:16:52.918,0:17:01.525 As a consequence of these incidents the toy companies began to impose ethical demands on their suppliers: so-called codes of conduct. 0:17:01.525,0:17:07.466 The introduction of codes of conduct has led to improvements in the working environment in many factories. 0:17:07.466,0:17:11.301 But what about working hours and wages? 0:17:11.301,0:17:14.467 This is a leading supplier to the Swedish toy market. 0:17:14.467,0:17:18.970 We ask if it is difficult to follow the codes of the Swedish companies. 0:17:18.970,0:17:21.018 TEXT: GINNY MOK, Sales Manager 0:17:21.018,0:17:25.218 We have passed different kinds of controls like quality control on ethical issues. 0:17:25.218,0:17:28.520 We have different audits. 0:17:28.520,0:17:30.308 So, you have no problems of following them. 0:17:30.308,0:17:34.284 Yeah, no problems. No problem. 0:17:34.284,0:17:36.587 Do you always know when they will come? 0:17:36.587,0:17:40.935 Normally they will set up a certain date. 0:17:40.935,0:17:45.764 Not a particular time but the day they are coming... 0:17:45.764,0:17:48.031 - Working 8 hours a day... 0:17:48.031,0:17:52.045 We are shown contracts setting out factory regulations 0:17:52.045,0:17:59.012 and we see wage lists and time cards. 0:17:59.012,0:18:00.802 - Overtime work cannot be over 36 hours 0:18:00.802,0:18:04.555 All seems to be well and in accordance with Chinese law 0:18:04.555,0:18:07.382 and the companies codes of conduct. 0:18:07.382,0:18:14.250 Where is the overtime? No overtime? 0:18:14.250,0:18:23.167 However, workers from the factory tell us that there is a system of false wage lists and time cards. 0:18:23.167,0:18:30.917 The false lists that are shown when code controllers from the buyers call show much higher wages than are paid out. 0:18:30.917,0:18:38.306 Prior to visits from the controllers, management warns workers not to talk about real wages and working hours. 0:18:38.306,0:18:43.161 Workers are paid to give appropriate answers to the controllers. 0:18:43.161,0:18:45.892 Do a lot of customers check the factory? 0:18:45.892,0:18:47.219 Yes, pretty often. 0:18:47.219,0:18:50.768 But they don't discover anything. 0:18:50.768,0:18:52.225 Why not? 0:18:52.225,0:18:55.058 Because we have prepared ourselves. 0:18:55.058,0:19:01.837 They know what the buyers are looking for and have prepared for it. 0:19:01.837,0:19:05.306 - so it is pointless to inspect 0:19:05.306,0:19:07.805 Does the factory tell you what to answer? 0:19:07.805,0:19:09.121 Yes, always. 0:19:09.121,0:19:10.350 Do you get paid if you answer as you have been told to? 0:19:10.350,0:19:11.806 Yes, if we give the correct answers we get 50 yuan. 0:19:11.806,0:19:18.140 If it is like that, it is very disturbing. 0:19:18.140,0:19:23.925 But I have not received any reports and never seen anything like that. 0:19:23.925,0:19:28.309 But again, I have not asked if there are any false reports - 0:19:28.309,0:19:32.180 - so it isn't very strange that I have not seen any. 0:19:32.180,0:19:35.635 It shouldn't be like that. 0:19:35.635,0:19:40.637 Now you are saying it is so, and all I can just say is that 0:19:40.637,0:19:42.374 - it shouldn't be like that. 0:19:42.374,0:19:47.960 Tell me what factories they are and we will deal with them. 0:19:47.960,0:19:51.955 An investigation by the Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee 0:19:51.955,0:19:57.885 shows that 7 out of 9 suppliers cheat in this way. 0:19:57.885,0:20:00.531 What do you think it is like? 0:20:00.531,0:20:02.302 I think it is because they want to make money. 0:20:02.302,0:20:05.347 It takes money to follow the buyers codes of conduct. 0:20:05.347,0:20:08.301 But the suppliers say the buyers will not pay these extra costs. 0:20:08.301,0:20:13.676 If the selling price is too low, the profit of the factory will also be low 0:20:13.676,0:20:19.914 in which case the factory cannot afford to pay the workers their wages 0:20:19.914,0:20:24.465 It is the very worst situation. 0:20:24.465,0:20:29.719 This soft toy manufacturer who is a supplier to the Swedish market agrees. 0:20:29.719,0:20:32.669 Sometimes I joke with our customers... 0:20:32.669,0:20:36.711 "Okay, I agree to everything you want, if you raise the price to 20 percent." 0:20:36.711,0:20:42.038 You know, they are not going to do that. They don't care. 0:20:42.038,0:20:46.731 "You give me a lead time of 90 days instead of 30 days" 0:20:46.731,0:20:49.807 -"then I don't want to do the overtime." 0:20:49.807,0:20:51.859 Nobody wants to do the overtime, right? 0:20:51.859,0:20:56.630 But if you have to ship this order within 30 days - 0:20:56.630,0:21:03.326 - then overtime is obviously necessary 0:21:03.326,0:21:07.332 We also have to look at the consumers, how much are they willing to pay for the product 0:21:07.332,0:21:11.884 You cannot go and increase the price by 30 percent 0:21:11.884,0:21:16.175 You need time to make sure the customers actually understand that there is a link 0:21:16.175,0:21:18.019 between the price you pay and what you get 0:21:18.019,0:21:23.245 With an increasingly tough global competition 0:21:23.245,0:21:27.428 prices are kept low at the expense of the workers 0:21:27.428,0:21:41.720 Why then don't the workers complain, why don't they protest? 0:21:41.720,0:21:47.200 Han Dongfang was one of the leaders of the student protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989 0:21:47.200,0:21:53.186 where he and thousands of other students demonstrated for democracy in China 0:21:53.186,0:21:57.925 The army crushed the protests which ended in a bloodbath. 0:21:57.925,0:22:03.598 Han Dongfang was imprisoned and eventually deported to Hong Kong. 0:22:03.598,0:22:09.393 According to the trade union law in China only one union is allowed 0:22:09.393,0:22:14.005 which is the official Communist Party controlled union 0:22:14.005,0:22:19.142 and this organization is basically a Communist party branch 0:22:19.142,0:22:22.800 in charge of controlling workers to make sure that 0:22:22.800,0:22:27.973 workers don't know anything about the union. 0:22:27.973,0:22:32.694 Han Dongfang is now working for the cause of Chinese workers 0:22:32.694,0:22:36.217 in his radio program on Radio Free Asia 0:22:36.217,0:22:39.628 and by writing for the China Labour Bulletin 0:22:39.628,0:22:42.879 As it is impossible to organize free trade unions in China 0:22:42.879,0:22:45.308 he gives workers advice by telephone 0:22:45.308,0:22:49.342 on how to organize their grievences within the framework of the law 0:22:49.342,0:22:54.056 and bring their cases to court. 0:22:54.056,0:22:58.873 One day it is hoped that Chinese workers 0:22:58.873,0:23:04.635 will be allowed to form trade unions 0:23:04.635,0:23:08.356 A trade union is a prominent way of protecting workers' rights 0:23:08.356,0:23:12.266 not only in this country but anywhere else 0:23:12.266,0:23:16.860 If you are a few people fighting for this you're scared 0:23:16.860,0:23:27.557 but if you are 300 people or 700 people then you are not scared anymore. 0:23:27.557,0:23:33.754 In Hong Kong, there is an independent trade federation - The Hong Kong Confederation of Workers. 0:23:33.754,0:23:39.804 They claim to be the only free trade union in China. 0:23:39.804,0:23:41.360 TEXT: ELIZABETH TANG, Chief Executive, HKCTU 0:23:41.360,0:23:45.384 Since the 80's when everbody in the world was thinking that China had changed 0:23:45.384,0:23:50.391 and that China was becoming more and more open 0:23:50.391,0:23:54.142 and connecting with the West more and more 0:23:54.142,0:23:59.806 but almost all the workers who have tried to organize 0:23:59.806,0:24:07.965 independent organizations have been arrested. 0:24:07.965,0:24:15.805 They have a union and they can join if they want. 0:24:15.805,0:24:21.960 What are the complaints? 0:24:21.960,0:24:25.053 They have the channel but so far they didn't use it. 0:24:25.053,0:24:27.138 What did the union do then? 0:24:27.138,0:24:30.575 Isn't the union without a purpose then? 0:24:30.575,0:24:35.538 Yes, but the state demands that we have one. 0:24:35.538,0:24:46.224 Actually the workers can complain through these unions 0:24:46.224,0:24:53.722 but so far they are not quite used to voicing their complaints through these unions. 0:24:53.722,0:25:01.303 We are able to meet a union representative from one of the factories. 0:25:01.303,0:25:02.722 TEXT: SAU SANA, Trade Union Representative 0:25:02.722,0:25:10.536 The workers think that they are treated fairly. 0:25:10.536,0:25:13.299 They haven't raised any issues. 0:25:13.299,0:25:20.125 These are the prizes that we have received for our efforts 0:25:20.125,0:25:21.971 on behalf of the workers. 0:25:21.971,0:25:24.393 I believe they think we have done a good job. 0:25:24.393,0:25:28.020 If you formed an independent union at the factory 0:25:28.020,0:25:33.508 what do you think would happen? 0:25:33.508,0:25:37.385 If we did that we would be fired. 0:25:37.385,0:25:42.672 They would never allow an independent union at the factory. 0:25:42.672,0:25:49.013 Well, the worker's demand is even greater than that of the buyer. 0:25:49.013,0:25:54.977 They always have endless demands. 0:25:54.977,0:25:56.363 Are we going to fight? 0:25:56.363,0:26:01.150 Fight! 0:26:01.150,0:26:03.971 In Thailand, workers are able to organize unions 0:26:03.971,0:26:07.595 and this has led to certain improvements. 0:26:07.595,0:26:12.378 When our union was formed, we started demanding improvements. 0:26:12.378,0:26:14.726 The union has had meetings and negotiations. 0:26:14.726,0:26:17.976 So all improvements... everything we have received 0:26:17.976,0:26:22.890 is thanks to our union. 0:26:22.890,0:26:25.953 We meet .. and his workmates who work in a factory 0:26:25.953,0:26:29.292 making toys for export to Europe. 0:26:29.292,0:26:32.203 Conditions are better thanks to the union. 0:26:32.203,0:26:35.969 But it is difficult to live on their wages. 0:26:35.969,0:26:42.468 They live in a poor area. Three of them share one small room. 0:26:42.468,0:26:48.445 They show us a packet of toy motorcycles from their factory. 0:26:48.445,0:26:53.444 As soon as the union demands anything the company says it will be bankrupt 0:26:53.444,0:26:57.012 and they threaten with relocation. 0:26:57.012,0:27:00.892 If they move to China we lose our jobs. 0:27:00.892,0:27:07.426 They threaten us so that we won't demand anything more. 0:27:07.426,0:27:12.337 All Asiatic countries feel the tough competition from China. 0:27:12.337,0:27:17.435 Many Asian manufacturers have already relocated their production there. 0:27:17.435,0:27:20.980 Because of its enormous population and repressive trade union laws 0:27:20.980,0:27:26.675 China can offer companies unbeatable low production costs. 0:27:26.675,0:27:30.146 Employees in Thailand use the threat of Chinese competition 0:27:30.146,0:27:33.752 when negotiating wages and working conditions. 0:27:33.752,0:27:38.097 Thai workers are afraid to demand better wages because of the threat 0:27:38.097,0:27:46.996 and in China employees cannot voice their demands. 0:27:46.996,0:27:54.141 The environment is another victim of the huge expansion of the export industry in Southern China 0:27:54.141,0:27:57.915 There are thousands of factories located along the Dongjiang river. 0:27:57.915,0:28:01.189 Some of them are toy factories which we have visited. 0:28:01.189,0:28:04.611 Most of them release waste untreated. 0:28:04.611,0:28:06.347 TEXT: APPLE CHAN, Greenpeace, Hong Kong 0:28:06.347,0:28:10.766 Testing on Chromium, Lead, Mercury, Phosphorus, Ammonium... 0:28:10.766,0:28:15.226 Mercury is the one we find most problematic because 0:28:15.226,0:28:24.893 it tests 280 times higher than the national state requirements or regulations. 0:28:24.893,0:28:28.113 We are worried because people are drinking the polluted water 0:28:28.113,0:28:30.471 and also eating contaminated fish. 0:28:30.471,0:28:40.891 Research on mercury shows it brings damage to the brain. 0:28:40.891,0:28:46.063 We use water from the factories. 0:28:46.063,0:28:47.724 From the factory over there. 0:28:47.724,0:28:49.662 You use it for irrigation? 0:28:49.662,0:28:50.930 Yes. 0:28:50.930,0:28:52.639 Where else can we get water? 0:28:52.639,0:28:54.932 There is no fresh, clean water. 0:28:54.932,0:29:00.975 There is nothing else. We have to use the water from the factory. 0:29:00.975,0:29:06.307 The pollution is a disaster for the poor who used to live by fishing this river. 0:29:06.307,0:29:11.906 You cannot drink or use the water and we can't fish. 0:29:11.906,0:29:18.647 It comes from upstream from all the factories in Shenzhen. 0:29:18.647,0:29:23.367 It is their waste that comes here. 0:29:23.367,0:29:27.768 You used to be able to see all the way to the bottom. 0:29:27.768,0:29:31.143 Now you cannot see anything because of all the waste. 0:29:31.143,0:29:35.064 We used to bathe here. The water was very clean. 0:29:35.064,0:29:40.415 But now you cannot do that. See for yourself how dirty it is. 0:29:40.415,0:29:42.857 It stinks of death. 0:29:42.857,0:29:45.480 Who is responsible for the environmental devastation 0:29:45.480,0:29:47.814 and the poor working conditions that make possible 0:29:47.814,0:29:51.085 the cheap production of the things we buy? 0:29:51.085,0:29:56.368 We are having more and more industries in the developing countries where there is cheap labour 0:29:56.368,0:30:04.978 and environmental rules are not that strict in the big companies who are trying to take advantage of that 0:30:04.978,0:30:14.782 and they are not trying to take full responsibility to ensure that they don't pollute the area. 0:30:14.782,0:30:21.726 The main solution is that the companies think of their corporate responsibility to make sure that they don't pollute. 0:30:21.726,0:30:31.301 Many people are ready to take responsibility for the environment 0:30:31.301,0:30:35.009 and that toys are not produced by child workers. 0:30:35.009,0:30:39.727 But our customers and we noticed this when we were manufacturing in Sweden - 0:30:39.727,0:30:46.562 - the customers are not willing to pay the extra cost. 0:30:46.562,0:30:56.647 If we sell the products in our shops, we are responsible for those products. 0:30:56.647,0:31:03.258 I want the consumers to be aware 0:31:03.258,0:31:09.596 that the workers have a hard time. 0:31:09.596,0:31:13.902 We pay for this with blood and sweat. 0:31:13.902,0:31:18.452 We toil and we sweat. 0:31:18.452,0:31:22.900 And at the same time the companies never make a loss. 0:31:22.900,0:31:25.780 I do not want you to stop buying 0:31:25.780,0:31:30.763 but you should know about our difficult situation. 0:31:30.763,0:31:34.386 Do you have any suggestion for the factory? 0:31:34.386,0:31:42.149 We would like the management to be a bit more humane. 0:31:42.149,0:31:45.399 We would like better wages and shorter working hours. 0:31:45.399,0:32:07.812 And when we work at night, we should not have to work so late.