Disney

Disney workers' rights… …..Don't take the Mickey!

Public pressure has forced Disney, like many other companies to adopt a code of conduct. Codes of conduct are sets of rules relating to working standards which companies decide they and their suppliers will comply with.

Disney is proud of its code of conduct and claims that all of its suppliers have to follow it. Yet recent research in South China factories has once again brought to light the appalling conditions for Disney garment workers'.

According to HKCIC, young Chinese women migrant workers making Disney label toys , clothes and accessories work up to 16 hours a day, for as little as 10p per hour. It is common for factories to ignore overtime laws and force workers to work excessively long hours. But wages are so poor that often workers cannot survive unless they do the overtime work.

Workers in some factories are fined for talking or going to the toilet without permission. Workers complain of unhealthy working conditions, such as exposure to harmful chemicals. Others reported delays in receiving pay, falsification of timecards and not receiving overtime premiums. Food provided is described as 'pigs feed', dorms are crowded and arranged like 'cages'.

In many instances workers have tried to organise to defend their rights, but have been dismissed.

What about Disney's Code of Conduct?

Many workers know little about Disney's Coded of Conduct or how it is being implemented. Disney's monitoring of their own code is a joke. Most factory visits by monitors are announced beforehand, and sometimes factories are cleaned up for them. Managers use double bookkeeping, force workers to lie to monitors about working conditions and to sign falsified work records. Sometimes monitors do not even talk to workers.

PLEASE SUPPORT DISNEY WORKERS STRUGGLE FOR THEIR RIGHTS!

Write a letter to Disney's Chief Executive Officer, Michael Eisner.

(See model letter below)

Say that current working and living conditions are totally unacceptable and violate Chinese law and their own code. They should ensure their suppliers respect workers rights. They should address their inadequate and ineffective monitoring program. Rather than cutting and running away from problem areas, they should act responsibly and work with their contractors to correct problems immediately.

Urge Disney to do the following:- 1) Promotion of workers rights education in the workplace. 2) Involvement of workers in monitoring conditions. 3) Provision of accessible and trustworthy complaints procedure 4) Strictly monitor and assist your suppliers to comply with national law and Disney's code 5) Disclose information on your suppliers for public scrutiny.

cartoons by Angela Martin

model letter:

December 15, 2000

Mr. Michael Eisner, CEO
Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521
Fax: 818-566-7835

Dear Mr. Eisner:

RE: Disney Sweatshops in South China

I am/We are writing to express my/our very serious concerns about recent reports of sweatshop abuses in factories producing Disney products in China. According to a report by the Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee, workers are being forced to work up to 18 hours a day, seven
days a week, often under dangerous working conditions, for poverty wages. Workers interviewed complain of bad food and dangerous and overcrowded living conditions. Obviously, these working and living conditions are totally unacceptable, and are clearly in violation of both Chinese Labour Law and your company's code of conduct.

As promised in your code of conduct, Disney should ensure that its contractors respect workers' rights. However, your company's current monitoring program appears to be inadequate and ineffective. Rather than cutting and running from contract factories in violation of the Disney code and Chinese law, which would only cause more suffering for the affected workers, Disney should act responsibly and work with your contractors to correct the problems immediately.

I/We strongly urge Disney to do the following:
1.      Promote workers' rights education at the workplace so that workers are aware of their rights and able to make complaints when those rights are violated.
2.      Involve workers in the monitoring process. They should be empowered to act as on-going workplace monitors.
3.      Provide accessible and trustworthy channels (e.g. letter box in the factory with prepaid postal envelopes) for workers to lodge complaints to the company and interested third parties. The company should guarantee that there will be no retaliation against workers who register complaints.
4.      Strictly monitor and assist your suppliers to comply with the national labour laws and Disney's Code. Instead of simply cutting and running, Disney should work with the non-complying factories to improve the situation.
5.      Disclose all information on your suppliers for public scrutiny.

I/we look forward to receiving a prompt reply outlining the specific steps your company is taking to correct these problems and to make your monitoring program more transparent, credible and effective.

Yours sincerely,
Name/ Organization / Contact Information