China Labor Watch Investigates Chinese OEM Factory for Three Months
Evidence of Illegal Overtime and Blank Contracts
Regulations Protecting Minors Not Enforced
Labor rights violations, including the exploitation of underage workers, have been uncovered in the production process of the 'Labubu' dolls by Chinese toy company Pop Mart, which has gained sensational global popularity.
On January 13 (local time), The Guardian reported, citing findings from China Labor Watch (CLW), a labor rights group based in New York, that illegal employment of minors, opaque contract practices, and unlawful overtime work were confirmed in the production of Labubu dolls.
China Labor Watch conducted a three-month investigation last year at Shunjia Toys, a toy manufacturer located in Jiangxi Province, China. This factory, which employs more than 4,500 workers and produces 12 million Labubu dolls annually, is one of Pop Mart's major original equipment manufacturing (OEM) facilities.
The investigation revealed that workers aged 16 to 18 were assigned to the same production lines as adults. Chinese law requires special protection measures for employing youth aged 16 to 18, such as excluding them from hazardous tasks and restricting overtime, but these protections were not properly implemented at the factory.
As demand for Labubu dolls surged, production pressure also increased. Each work team, consisting of 25 to 30 people, was required to produce at least 4,000 Labubu dolls per day, and underage workers were given the same workload and production targets as adults.
The labor intensity far exceeded legal standards. Workers’ average monthly overtime exceeded 100 hours, with some cases reaching 145 hours during peak season. Chinese labor law limits monthly overtime to a maximum of 36 hours.
There were also indications of illegal practices during the employment contract process. The factory required workers to sign blank employment contracts-without details such as wages, employment period, or job description-within five minutes, and some workers testified that they were instructed not to read the contract contents.
Pop Mart stated, "We place great importance on the welfare and safety of workers in our supply chain," adding, "We have launched an investigation into the issues raised and will require corrective actions from our partners if any problems are confirmed."
Meanwhile, Labubu dolls achieved explosive popularity in a short period through the combination of the 'random box' sales method and a social media certification culture. In particular, demand surged rapidly as celebrities and influencers, including Blackpink’s Lisa and Ros?, showcased themselves owning or using Labubu keyrings and figurines. Riding this popularity, Pop Mart recorded sales of over 4.8 billion yuan (approximately 1 trillion won) in just the first half of 2025.
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