"Labubu, Unboxed: the labor behind the global toy phenomenon", China Labor Watch, 13 January 2026

Executive Summary

In the summer and fall of 2025, China Labor Watch conducted an in-depth investigation into a Labubu factory, Shunjia Toys Co. Ltd. at Xinfeng County, a core manufacturing facility producing the toys for Pop Mart. At the time of the investigation, the factory employed more than 4,500 workers and is a key supplier in Pop Mart’s latest Labubu series.

[...] the investigation revealed key labor issues. This includes overtime hours far exceeding the legal limit, extensive use of dispatched labor, opaque contract practices, potential evasion of social insurance contributions, inadequate safety training and deficiencies in occupational health and safety protections. While no child labor was identified, the factory employed workers aged 16 as long-term production workers under the same conditions as adults, without providing the special protections required under Chinese law. The investigation also found no labor union nor effective grievance mechanism, alongside widespread reports of bullying by management, verbal sexual harassment, and worker concerns about living and dining conditions.

We call on Pop Mart, as the brand owner and primary beneficiary of Labubu’s success, to rectify labor practices within its supply chain, compensate affected workers, and ensure that future production complies with both Chinese law and internationally recognized labor standards.