CLW Report Alleges Shunjia Toys Violations; 16-Year-Olds Work, Pop Mart Investigates

A China Labor Watch report released after inspections of Shunjia Toys alleges excessive overtime, unclear contract practices, and insufficient safety training at the factory that makes figures for major blind-box brands. While CLW said no formal child labour was identified, it found 16-year-olds working alongside adults without the additional legal protections those younger workers should receive.

The report, dated January 15, 2026, paints a picture of risks common in OEM-dominated toy supply chains: contractors operating under tight production schedules, limited transparency on hiring and pay practices, and weak grievance channels for workers. These conditions can lead to chronic overtime and gaps in occupational health training, CLW argues, raising both ethical and operational concerns for brands and collectors.

Pop Mart, which sources product through third-party manufacturers, responded by saying it will investigate the report's findings and enforce corrective measures if the violations are confirmed. The company’s reaction underscores the accountability pressure facing brands that rely heavily on outside factories to meet the fast-turnaround demands of blind-box drops and collector lines.

For the Labubu community, the immediate significance is twofold. First, reputational and regulatory fallout could influence product availability and release schedules if factories must pause operations to implement remedies. Second, collectors increasingly care about the conditions under which figures are made; transparency or the lack of it now factors into purchase decisions and community discussions.

CLW called on brands to improve transparency and set up functioning grievance mechanisms to reduce labour risks. Practical, on-the-ground steps include public disclosure of supplier lists and audit results, clear channels for workers to report abuse, and age-verification procedures that ensure younger employees receive legal protections. These measures matter because they are the levers brands can pull quickly to lower risk in complex supply chains.

This is not just a corporate or legal story for collectors. Labubu fans who follow release calendars and secondary market trends will want to track Pop Mart’s investigation and any supplier remediation that follows. Verify brand statements, follow Pop Mart’s updates, and ask retailers or resellers about supplier practices when transparency is available. If corrective measures are enacted, watch for changes in production pacing, quality checks, and scheduling around major drops.

What comes next is clear: Pop Mart’s inquiry will determine whether factories like Shunjia must alter staffing and training, and the outcome will shape how the community balances collecting passion with ethics in an age of global OEM manufacturing.