The scandal
In many Asian toy factories, social and economic human rights are violated systematically. The victims are mostly women at the age of 18 to 30 years. Every year before Christmas season, working hours are extremely long: 12 or 13 hours per day, seven days a week. In many factories, there is no protection against unfair dismissal nor maternity leave. Wages are below legal minimum, safety regulations are grossly neglected. All this violates national laws and international agreements.

Our objective: fair rules in toy production
Together with partner organisations in Europe and Asia, the NGOs jointly running the "fair play for toy workers" campaign call for full implementation of human rights and basic working standards in the toy industries. Thus the campaign has lobbied toy manufacturers and commerce in Germany to contribute to improving labour conditions by putting pressure on their Asian suppliers. The campaign demands from German toy manufacturers 1) that they implement the Code of Business Practices of the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) in a credible and transparent manner and 2) that they demand the same from their suppliers. This includes participation of workers in the implementation of the Code and in the monitoring of labour conditions.

The campaign, started in 1999, is run in cooperation with other NGOs in Germany, Europe and Southeast Asia.