BBC NEWS | Business | 'Brand China' at risk after toy recall Quote:
Officials in Beijing said on Wednesday they are working with their US counterparts to ensure customer safety.
But they have been slow off the mark - factory standards here remain far lower than in the West.
5,000 workers at the Lee Der factory have been laid off
The scale of the challenge is considerable. There are over 10,000 toy factories in China, almost all working for export, producing some 80% of the world's toys.
And many of those factories sub-contract.
Mattel is believed to source its products from about 3,000 factories across China.
And toys are only one industry. China is also facing criticism for safety scares in everything from food and drug production to the manufacturing of tyres and toothpaste.
In Beijing, the government is well aware that if it does not move quickly to shore up the reputation of goods made in China, then other workers, like those in Foshan, could be at risk of losing their jobs.
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Is this going to spiral a change in worl economy?
Can we affor large companies to cut costs at the expense of safety?