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  3. Step Inside China's Grueling Toy Factories [PHOTOS]

Step Inside China's Grueling Toy Factories [PHOTOS]

Every day, the workers have to arrive 15 minutes before the regular work shift begins for a work assembly.

Step Inside China's Grueling Toy Factories [PHOTOS]

Their living conditions are prison-like. Up to six people share small, cramped dormitories and up to 50 people share one bathroom.

Their living conditions are prison-like. Up to six people share small, cramped dormitories and up to 50 people share one bathroom.

Source: War On Want

Schools send student workers to these factories to do “internships."

Schools send student workers to these factories to do “internships."

Source: Sacom

Rather than learning skills related to their respective disciplines, the students work as frontline production workers.

Rather than learning skills related to their respective disciplines, the students work as frontline production workers.

Source: Sacom

Some factories promise workers a 10-minute break after every two hours of work.

Some factories promise workers a 10-minute break after every two hours of work.

Source: Sacom

Most workers never have benefited from these promises.

Most workers never have benefited from these promises.

Source: Sacom

After the work shift, there's another work assembly that lasts 15 minutes.

After the work shift, there

Source: Sacom

Even during the 30-minute lunch period, workers must return to the shop floor early to resume production or to attend another meeting. They're not paid for the time spent in these meetings or assemblies.

Even during the 30-minute lunch period, workers must return to the shop floor early to resume production or to attend another meeting. They

Source: Sacom

Workers endure long hours six to seven days a week.

Workers endure long hours six to seven days a week.

Source: Sacom

The overtime work is up to 200 hours a month, which is more than five times the legal limit.

The overtime work is up to 200 hours a month, which is more than five times the legal limit.

Source: Sacom

Female workers rarely get maternity leave, and with extreme hours and no childcare facilities they often cannot take care of their kids.

Female workers rarely get maternity leave, and with extreme hours and no childcare facilities they often cannot take care of their kids.

Source: War On Want

Many women are forced to send their children to live with family in the countryside.

Many women are forced to send their children to live with family in the countryside.

Toy production involves close contact with chemicals that are incredibly harmful to the workers' health.

Toy production involves close contact with chemicals that are incredibly harmful to the workers

This results in alarmingly high levels of occupational disease and work-related injuries. In 2009, about one million people were injured at work and about 20,000 suffered from diseases due to their occupation.

This results in alarmingly high levels of occupational disease and work-related injuries. In 2009, about one million people were injured at work and about 20,000 suffered from diseases due to their occupation.

Source: War On Want

Many factory workers are not even required to wear safety equipment, including those who spend extensive amounts of time spray painting toys.

Many factory workers are not even required to wear safety equipment, including those who spend extensive amounts of time spray painting toys.

Source: War On Want

Injured workers report that factory management does not show interest in workers' well-being.

Injured workers report that factory management does not show interest in workers

Source: Sacom

And companies usually don't pay workers' entitled monthly salary if they're on medical leave.

And companies usually don

Source: Sacom

By age 30, female migrants are considered too old for factory work and are discharged.

By age 30, female migrants are considered too old for factory work and are discharged.

Source: War On Want

Workers can usually jump from job to job fairly easily, but they typically don't receive a substantial pay increase.

Workers can usually jump from job to job fairly easily, but they typically don

Most Chinese migrant workers do not own the products they spend their lives making.

Most Chinese migrant workers do not own the products they spend their lives making.

How did it get like this? Before opening up its economy in the late '70s, the Chinese government issued tight control between rural and urban areas, which encouraged people to migrate to cities illegally.

How did it get like this? Before opening up its economy in the late

Source: War On Want

According to War On Want, "These controls were part of the permit (hukou) system, in which welfare entitlements such as pensions, housing, health, and education were tied to a person's place of birth."

According to War On Want, "These controls were part of the permit (hukou) system, in which welfare entitlements such as pensions, housing, health, and education were tied to a person

Source: War On Want

But as China moved toward a market economy, cheap rural labor became integral to the country's growth.

But as China moved toward a market economy, cheap rural labor became integral to the country

Source: War On Want

The limitations on migration were reduced and about 85 percent of China's rural poor flocked to the cities in search of employment.

The limitations on migration were reduced and about 85 percent of China

Source: War On Want

However, the restrictions on household registration of the hukou remained as rigid as ever.

However, the restrictions on household registration of the hukou remained as rigid as ever.

Source: War On Want

Migrant workers became unable to access state benefits or protection, despite Chinese laws promising "equal rights” for all.

Migrant workers became unable to access state benefits or protection, despite Chinese laws promising "equal rights” for all.

Source: War On Want

They became outcasts in the eyes of their government.

They became outcasts in the eyes of their government.

Source: War On Want

That's approximately 150 million migrant workers who are completely unprotected.

That

Source: War On Want

They endure poor working conditions such as excessive and forced overtime, yet they don't even have basic social security benefits or employment contracts.

They endure poor working conditions such as excessive and forced overtime, yet they don

Source: War On Want

The workers’ lack of awareness of their own rights and the Chinese government’s unwillingness to address the abuse only perpetuate the system of inequality.

The workers’ lack of awareness of their own rights and the Chinese government’s unwillingness to address the abuse only perpetuate the system of inequality.

Source: War On Want

Multinational corporations and national factory owners take advantage of the anti-union climate.

Multinational corporations and national factory owners take advantage of the anti-union climate.

Source: War On Want

Despite the terrible working conditions, workers are optimistic that they will be able to gain new skills and create a better life.

Despite the terrible working conditions, workers are optimistic that they will be able to gain new skills and create a better life.

Michael Wolf, the photographer of this series, has a display made out of 16,000 toys purchased second-hand from flea markets and stores across California. Each toy has a face and was 'made in China.'

Michael Wolf, the photographer of this series, has a display made out of 16,000 toys purchased second-hand from flea markets and stores across California. Each toy has a face and was

Now take a look at the working conditions in garment factories

Now take a look at the working conditions in garment factories

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