Mattel Facilities in Mexico Receive High Marks From Independent Monitor

Mattel Facilities In Mexico Receive High Marks From Independent Monitor

NEW YORK,- The International Center for Corporate Accountability (ICCA) today released audit results of Mattel, Inc.’s manufacturing facilities in Tijuana and Monterrey, Mexico. ICCA’s independent reports, which have been publicly issued since 1999, are commissioned by Mattel as part of the company’s commitment to upholding its Global Manufacturing Principles (GMP) code of conduct by providing an unbiased, third-party analysis of working conditions in its manufacturing facilities.

In the area of working hours, wages and benefits, the current report highlighted the need for improvement regarding consecutive days of work without a rest day and overtime that occasionally exceeded GMP standards. In addition, ICCA auditors recommended greater attention to up-keep and maintenance on the shop floors, better housekeeping outside the facility and improved ventilation in the blow-molding area. In those areas highlighted as needing improvement, Mattel has already completed corrective action.

“Mattel has fully implemented changes and new processes that address areas of concern noted in the audit report,” said Jim Walter, senior vice president of worldwide quality assurance at Mattel. “As always, ICCA has the option, at its own discretion, to revisit these plants for a follow-up audit to verify the satisfactory completion of Mattel’s corrective actions.”

Additionally, Walter said that Mattel works hard to ensure its facilities around the world, as well as those of contracted vendors, consistently meet the self-imposed high standards set by GMP, which marks a 10-year milestone in 2007.

Dr. S. Prakash Sethi, chairman of ICCA and University Distinguished Professor, Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, commented, “We commend Mattel’s swift action to correct issues noted by ICCA’s report on this most recent audit. Specifically, the facility in Monterrey ranks among the best of Mattel’s owned and operated plants.”

Summary of Report Findings:

The ICCA report found that Mattel’s facilities in Mexico meet GMP standards in all of the following areas:

* Recruitment and hiring of workers
* GMP awareness among employees
* Workplace discipline
* Use of personal protective equipment
* Access to drinking water and restroom facilities
* Kitchen facilities and meal breaks
* Medical facilities
* Freedom of association and access to management
* Protection from harassment
* Recreation facilities
* Non-job related skill enhancement programs

The full text of the ICCA report can be viewed on ICCA’s Web site at http://www.ICCA-corporateaccountability.org and on the Mattel corporate Web site located at http://www.mattel.com.

Mattel’s Global Manufacturing Principles (GMP), launched in November 1997, are the cornerstone of the company’s ongoing commitment to responsible manufacturing practices around the world. Adherence to GMP seeks to ensure that wages, working and living conditions and employee access to management are just and fair, as well as to assure protection of the environment. Mattel contracted with ICCA to perform regular audits of its owned manufacturing facilities and those of its major suppliers. ICCA’s responsibility is to evaluate and publish findings on these manufacturing facilities’ compliance with GMP. ICCA’s audit protocols are designed to verify compliance with Mattel’s GMP standards in a manner that is comprehensive, objectively measured, interpreted in a meaningful manner and independent of any other consideration except the compliance standards specified in the GMP.