By Russ Wiles
The next time you buy a jacket, a purse or accessories, check the pockets, nooks and crannies.
An Arizona woman found a handwritten paper note that could represent a plea for help from a distraught worker, possibly a prisoner, at an unidentified Walmart supplier in China — the latest in a series of mystery notes that pop up from time to time describing harsh labor conditions in China.
Christel Wallace, of the Sierra Vista area, found a small folded piece of paper with Chinese-style characters in a purse she bought at a local Walmart in March.
The situation became a national news story when her former daughter-in-law, Laura Wallace, posted the note on Facebook with a request for help translating it.
Television station KVOA in Tucson first reported the story.
Television station KVOA in Tucson first reported the story.
Tim Steller of the Arizona Daily Star, who later interviewed the women, indicated the coarse paper and crude writing could point to its authenticity.
Attempts by The Republic to contact the Wallaces were unsuccessful.
Translators identified the language as Chinese and said the writer indicated he or she was a prisoner in Guangxi, in southern China.
Attempts by The Republic to contact the Wallaces were unsuccessful.
Translators identified the language as Chinese and said the writer indicated he or she was a prisoner in Guangxi, in southern China.
The writing describing a routine where inmates work 14-hour days, are subject to beatings, are fed poor-quality food and are paid meagerly.
"Most Walmart supplier factories in China have very poor labor conditions," said Li Qiang, executive director of China Labor Watch, a group in New York that advocates for supply chain transparency and improved factory conditions.
A Walmart spokeswoman indicated the company was aware of the situation but didn't comment on suppliers in China or elsewhere.
“We’re making contact with the customer and appreciate her bringing this to our attention," said Ragan Dickens, the company's director of national media relations, in an email to The Republic. "With the information we have, we are looking into what happened so we can take the appropriate actions.”
Such notes have been found in the past.
"Most Walmart supplier factories in China have very poor labor conditions," said Li Qiang, executive director of China Labor Watch, a group in New York that advocates for supply chain transparency and improved factory conditions.
A Walmart spokeswoman indicated the company was aware of the situation but didn't comment on suppliers in China or elsewhere.
“We’re making contact with the customer and appreciate her bringing this to our attention," said Ragan Dickens, the company's director of national media relations, in an email to The Republic. "With the information we have, we are looking into what happened so we can take the appropriate actions.”
Such notes have been found in the past.
They included a message found in a pair of pants at a Primark store in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and a communication found in Halloween decorations at a Kmart in Oregon.
Walmart, the world's largest retailer, buys products from more than 100,000 suppliers around the world and is known for driving hard bargains.
Walmart said in a corporate filing that suppliers "are subject to standards of conduct, including requirements that they comply with local labor laws, local worker-safety laws and other applicable laws."
Still, the company, the second-largest employer in Arizona with roughly 34,000 workers in the state, acknowledged that there are many risks to relying on such an extensive supply chain.
"Our ability to find qualified suppliers who uphold our standards, and to access products in a timely and efficient manner, is a significant challenge, especially with respect to suppliers located and goods sourced outside the U.S.," the company said.
Given the extensive volume of consumer products imported into the U.S. — clothing, shoes, handbags, luggage, furniture, vehicles and much more — it's perhaps remarkable that such notes don't materialize more often.
"This situation is rare," said Li Qiang, commenting on prison workers, "but still exists."
Walmart, the world's largest retailer, buys products from more than 100,000 suppliers around the world and is known for driving hard bargains.
Walmart said in a corporate filing that suppliers "are subject to standards of conduct, including requirements that they comply with local labor laws, local worker-safety laws and other applicable laws."
Still, the company, the second-largest employer in Arizona with roughly 34,000 workers in the state, acknowledged that there are many risks to relying on such an extensive supply chain.
"Our ability to find qualified suppliers who uphold our standards, and to access products in a timely and efficient manner, is a significant challenge, especially with respect to suppliers located and goods sourced outside the U.S.," the company said.
Given the extensive volume of consumer products imported into the U.S. — clothing, shoes, handbags, luggage, furniture, vehicles and much more — it's perhaps remarkable that such notes don't materialize more often.
"This situation is rare," said Li Qiang, commenting on prison workers, "but still exists."
