This report provides an overview of U.S. interests and policies regarding China’s labor conditions. It compares a cross section of labor codes of conduct utilized by U.S. corporations and their suppliers that manufacture toys, shoes, apparel, and other labor intensive merchandise in China for export. Many consumer goods imported from China to the United States are produced by Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and South Korean factories in China for U.S. brands. Serious labor rights abuses have been reported in many of these factories. All of the codes sampled in this report mandate labor standards that are consistent with International Labor Organization core covenants and China’s Labor Law. The standards compared in this report pertain to: child labor, forced labor, disciplinary actions, discrimination, health and safety, and the environment. However, many of the codes do not provide extensive guidelines for monitoring and verifying compliance
