Lego Press information about production in China

[GRogall]

Lego Denmark

Criticism of LEGO licensed products manufactured in China

December 4, 2011

Today the Observer is reporting that the Hong-Kong-based Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior group has conducted an undercover research at the Hung Hing Printing Group, and during the research found several issues in regards to employee safety, working conditions,salaries and more.

Some LEGO licensed books are produced by the Hung Hing Printing Group.

“The reported investigation into working practices at the factory has raised serious issues. We take this information very seriously and have immediately asked our licensing partner to assess conditions at the factory,” says Charlotte Simonsen, Head of Corporate Communications at the LEGO Group.

Ensuring respect for workers’ rights is very important to the LEGO Group and all partners agree to adhere to a strict set of guidelines – the LEGO Group's

Code of Conduct

The LEGO Group requires all of its licensing partners to give a written assurance that their vendors, too, comply with the LEGO Group's Code of Conduct, and to audit their suppliers on an annual basis.

The licensing partner has confirmed that annual audits have been conducted and findings were acceptable. The LEGO Group has also been informed that the factory has recently been audited by the organisation ICTI Care, which is the toy industry’s ethical manufacturing program.

“Adhering to the Code of Conduct is something the LEGO Group prioritises in engagement with partners. It appears that in this case the code may have been broken and we are addressing this urgently. Once we have the full facts we will take decisive action,” says Charlotte Simonsen.

Further information:

Charlotte Simonsen, Head of Corporate Communications

Tel. +45 7950 6579

[Big Cam]

This is very interesting, being the critic that I am I wonder if TLG knew all along and they are just doing damage control, or if they are actually upset about it and caught off guard.

Especially with the whole apple suicide situation.

[Clone OPatra]

Just to make it clear, the factory in question is only where LEGO's licensed DK books are being made (the visual dictionaries, etc.). It is unrelated to the factory in China where actual LEGO toys are manufactured. I'm not saying that it makes any difference to the information, but I thought it was worth pointing out (lest some people try to start a rant about poor quality of Chinese parts and connect it to this).

[Jargo]

Why would Lego know? the printing is organised by Dorling Kindersley. Lego merely provide the information and pictures. I'm sure they take it on trust from a respected publisher like DK that the production of the books will be above board. Any scepticism and criticism should only be levelled at DK.

[Big Cam]

Why would Lego know? the printing is organised by Dorling Kindersley. Lego merely provide the information and pictures. I'm sure they take it on trust from a respected publisher like DK that the production of the books will be above board. Any scepticism and criticism should only be levelled at DK.

Do you think Apple had no idea why they got stuff produced so cheaply? In the corporate world, you can't just trust that someone is doing the right thing.

[Siegfried]

Do you think Apple had no idea why they got stuff produced so cheaply? In the corporate world, you can't just trust that someone is doing the right thing.

It's a bit different with Apple. Like most good tech companies they have to work closely with the manufacturer to ensure the finished product is exactly how they want. Thus there are many prototypes, checks, trials (in pubs), tweaks... and so on. But a book doesn't need that. There are clear print standards and you just have to pick one. Chances are the prototypes are done locally. So I don't really see the comparison.

On the other hand, TLG do need to work closely with the parts manufacturers, so if this happened in one of those it'd be a different story.

[Big Cam]

It's a bit different with Apple. Like most good tech companies they have to work closely with the manufacturer to ensure the finished product is exactly how they want. Thus there are many prototypes, checks, trials (in pubs), tweaks... and so on. But a book doesn't need that. There are clear print standards and you just have to pick one. Chances are the prototypes are done locally. So I don't really see the comparison.

On the other hand, TLG do need to work closely with the parts manufacturers, so if this happened in one of those it'd be a different story.

I think my problem is I'm from America where everyone is crooked. I think I'm so used to scandals and people doing the wrong thing that I immediately wonder is this a cover up, damage control or a sincere concern about the issue.

By everyone I was being dramatic, but also referring to companies, not individual people.