What are student activists doing in Hong Kong? The students who were involved in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 became some of the most famous student protestors of all time. But what few people know is that Hong Kong students are following in the footsteps of their counterparts on the mainland and forming their own protest groups. One group, Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM), has decided to take on Disney.

SACOM was formed by Hong Kong students in June 2005. They began as a small group of students who were upset by the mistreatment of janitors and security workers at their university. This interest in the labourers at their university soon grew to encompass labour rights in general, particularly those of individuals working in Hong Kong and mainland China. Prior to the opening of the Disney theme park in Hong Kong, SACOM joined up with Disney Hunter, another university-based activist group, to launch the “Looking for Mickey Mouse’s Conscience” campaign. Together, they set out to take on the second most powerful media corporation in the United States.

What is the problem?

Hong Kong Disneyland has received fewer visitors than they had initially anticipated and so their profits rely heavily on money made from souvenirs and memorabilia such as pens, stuffed toys, clothing, and the famous Mickey Mouse ears hats. However, what many visitors don’t know is that their mementos were manufactured and sewn by underpaid and overworked Chinese labourers who suffer daily human rights abuses. Disney also has factories in Haiti, India, and Pakistan; and there have been allegations of human rights abuses in factories in all four countries.

An article in the Los Angeles Times reported on March 10th, 2008 that Disney often signs contracts with third-party manufacturers to escape blame for inhumane factory conditions. This allows Disney to evade the guidelines set out in its code of conduct. Disney argues that because the workers sign contracts with a third party, they are not liable for the employees who manufacture their goods.

According to Jenny Chan of SACOM, “During the peak season, before Christmas, workers at the factory start at 8:00 am and don’t finish until midnight.” The workers are only paid the equivalent of 40 cents more per hour – half the minimum rate set by Chinese labour laws.

At the Yonglida factory in Southern China, many of the worker s simply do not have the time or the money to travel home. Instead, they live in dormitories at the factories. Mickey Mouse is not the only rodent at these factories. The workers are crammed into small sleeping quarters which often become overrun by rats and mice.

What happens when Disney gets caught?

When a Hong-Kong based human rights group exposed Disney in 2007 for its human rights abuses in the Huang Xing factory, Disney closed the factory, leaving eight-hundred workers without jobs. These workers responded by protesting. They demanded back-pay and compensation for unpaid wages; but Disney responded by sending security to clear out its former employees. It is estimated that the workers were denied four to five million yuan in compensation. One worker told the Los Angeles Times that after being caught protesting, “it will be really hard to find new jobs; the government and factories, they are all connected and I guess no one dares to hire us again.”

What does SACOM want from Disney?

SACOM has asked Disney to provide each of its employees with a written labour contract and a copy of Disney’s code of conduct in Cantonese or Mandarin. They are also requesting that Disney allow NGOs into their factories to provide the workers and managers with labour rights training. SACOM would also like to see the formation of labour groups to ensure that labour rights are respected, even when third-party observers are not present.

Unfortunately, the University of Lethbridge’s chapter of Amnesty International has concluded its activities for the 2007-2008 year. However, you may be interested in joining the Lethbridge Action Circle which is made up of human rights activists of all ages throughout Southern Alberta.