Undercover workers find hazards in Disney factories in China

Six Chinese college students who went undercover as workers at Disney factories released a report online documenting dangerous and unhealthy labor conditions. The Beijing Times reports that the students who came from three different colleges worked undercover at Disney contracted factories last summer. Wang Hai, Zhou Li, Li Yue, Li Wen, Wu Tao and Dong Jing decided to conduct secret investigations as undercover workers at six different Disney factories located in the Pearl River Delta areas after they received an email about the accidental death of a young worker in one of the factories. In their report released on a blog recently, the students reported finding rats in the bathrooms and electrical hazards such as overloaded sockets and wires everywhere. They said workers are not protected from toxic chemicals and their wages get deducted without explanation. Since the report has attracted media and public attention, Disney responded that it would investigate these factories and partner with students to monitor them. The students conducted interviews with workers and used cell phones to photograph the workplace conditions.