Combat Forced Labor: Help Choose Our Next Investigation

Shanghai, China - A 15 year-old boy died of pneumonia after a month in a factory in China. That was approaching the end of the year, when factories in China entered a peak season to fulfill orders, a time in which mandatory overtime and heavy workload is the status quo. Workers can work 10 to 12 hours per day, six days or seven days a week of grueling, monotonous labor. Asking for breaks can be difficult - as it pushes the workload to others of the same production line. This was the condition the boy endured before he passed away. Despite repeatedly requesting sick leave to seek medical attention, his employer refused each time.

Shi’s case is unfortunately not an isolated incident - it reflects a system where corporate profits are built upon the dehumanization of workers in third world countries. There are 28 million other men, women, and children in similar situations around the world whose stories often go untold. But they do not need to succumb to the same fate as Shi.

At China Labor Watch, we believe that consumer products should not come at the price of human suffering. We also believe that all workers should have a voice. We work towards exposing and improving labor conditions that workers like Shi had to endure. We do so by conducting undercover investigations to highlight atrocities and to advocate for worker's rights. Over the past 20 years, China Labor Watch has investigated more than 500 factories, over 100 brands, and has worked with media outlets to publish more than 100 public reports that expose human rights abuses within global supply chains.

The Immediate Opportunity

We are seeking to raise $10,000 in donations to launch our first undercover investigation of 2025 in China's manufacturing sector to expose forced labor conditions. Your donation will come with a vote on which corporation we should investigate and will directly fund an undercover mission in factories where reports of forced labor have surfaced. Following the investigation, we will publish the report and work with news media to increase the visibility of the issue.

Your Vote Matters

With each donation, you can cast a vote to investigate one of the following companies: Apple, BYD, Disney, Huawei, Mattel, Samsung, Shein, Temu, or Walmart. After donating, please post your vote in the public comment section. If you prefer, you can also choose to remain anonymous. Final donations and votes will be tallied on December 31st, in preparation for an investigation in the new year.

Why Act Now?

Immediate Impact: Investigation can begin in early 2025

Direct Democracy: Your donation = Your vote

Exclusive Access: End-of-year donors receive:

Priority updates on investigation findings

Early access to our report

Recognition in our annual donor impact statement

First opportunity to participate in our 2025 campaign

Your donation will create lasting change. With your help, we can expose companies and networks that are exploiting vulnerable people and amplify the voices of those who face censorship or are deliberately silenced.

Forced labor is a multi-billion dollar industry that thrives on secrecy. But it does not have to be. Together, we can hold powerful actors accountable, free people from exploitation, and create a safer, more just world for all.

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