Table of Content

1. Introduction ------------- Page – 2

2. Question 1 ---------------- Page – 2
3. Question 2 ---------------- Page - 3
4. Conclusion ---------------- Page – 4
5. References ---------------- Page - 5

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Introduction
Kids toys are a multimillion-dollar industry, which captures new customers on an annual basis. It
is a crucial part of a child’s growth stage and most of their time is spent with their toys. The case
being discussed is regarding kids toy brand called “Kiddo Toys” which is a well-known brand
globally to manufacture kids toys. The product range for these toys includes (Dolls, cars, remote-
controlled cars, aircraft, and boats). All of this diverse variety today are made by the Kiddo Toys
brand. Their headquarter is in Surrey, United Kingdom. The company also has two
subcontractors in China and Cambodia. 
The issue which is reflected in the case discusses the two ethical issues to which the company
has been subjected with. First of all, in China, due to the poor product quality and the use of
paint contains hazardous materials used in the manufacturing of toy cars. Due to this many
parents had placed their concerns and demanded that Kiddo Toys be sued for such actions.
Moreover, in Cambodia, local subcontractors were held accountable for hiring children in their
production plant, and not only that but also for the extreme working conditions to which the
employees were subjected. Additionally, there was so adequate compensation for the extra hours
they put in for an extra time. All of these acquisitions were answered by the statement from
Kiddo Toys as “said they did not have complete command over the international supplier chain
and manufacturing activities.” Therefore, it needs to be examined with the use of moral theories
and justifications as the actions and saying of the company are in accordance with the ethical
standards which they should follow, and does the company require to show and duty of care, and
is it in line with the business ethics for the company to be held accountable for these finds. 

Case analyses with theoretical application

Question 1. Do firms have a special duty to children and society if they manufacture products
targeted at children? Explain your reasons with relevant theories.
Answer:

Business ethics refers to the notion of right from wrong, moral norms, duties, and integrity, and
accountability in the framework of business. It consists of the different principles, beliefs, and
moral values that organizations should utilize to drive their functioning. While the
aforementioned situation raises a number of structural and corporate ethical concerns, the notion
of Ethical relativism is first explored. According to this idea, the definition of good and evil is
exclusively defined by what a society or community considers it to be — stating that ethical
imperatives are not ubiquitous but rather peculiar to a civilization or social environment
(Drucker, 1981). Therefore, with the reference of an ethical relativist it may be considered that it
may seem okay for some individuals in China to use hazardous materials in the manufacturing
process of kids toys (Cars) which those parents who opposed the idea of such manufacturing
flaws as their kids faced health issues. Moreover, in Cambodia, it may be considered normal to
certain individuals that child labor is acceptable, however, in some cases, it is seen as extremely
unethical as the action is taking away the most basic right from the child of experiencing their
lives and derailing their learning capabilities. To comprehend the situation, we divide moral
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philosophy into two groups: Teleological (or consequential) theories versus Deontological (or
non-consequential) conceptions. According to consequentialist beliefs, the moral rightness or
falseness of each action is assessed by balancing the proportion of positive to the evil that the
activity would create (Hasnas, 1998). The former approach contends that outcomes do not
determine the correctness of acts. 
Egoism being a consequentialist philosophy (Saylordotorg.github.io 2019), proposes that ethics
correlates with an individual's or organization's self-benefit — it is exclusively founded on the
concept of individual gain. If the activity produces a long-term advantage but also is in the
greatest interests of the individuals involved, it is ethically correct, and vice versa. For such as
case “Personal Egoism” is applicable as the actions and decision to use dangerous materials for
the manufacturing of toys subjected for kids is only in gain for the subcontractor in China as they
are not only benefiting from the cheap labor but also the cheap raw materials which are used in
the manufacturing process. Apply the Due care Theory – which states that manufacturers of a
product have the duty to take specific actions to ensure that the product which they are producing
doesn’t harm the interest of the consumer (Murero, 2013). It’s the duty of the manufacturer to
take all the necessary steps to ensure that the product which they are producing is safe and up to
the quality which they promise. Toy production is difficult for children to comprehend. They
chew the toys, throw them, open their sections, and so on while playing with them. As a result, it
is the responsibility of the manufacturers to avoid using toxic chemicals and electronic wires
while producing toys for children (Graham, 1995). The manufacturer should implement the
required expertise to ensure and force the damages the product could cause to its consumers, in
this case, the children who will use the product, and to implement all the measures to ensure their
safety. 

Question 2. In your opinion, do you think child labor in factories in developing countries is
ethical or not? Justify your discussion with two different ethical perspectives ( You may choose
any two 
moral theories)
Answer: 

The following discussion is regarding the local subcontractors based in Cambodia of the main
organization Kiddo Toys. The accusation which was implemented for them in this regard is that
the organization hired children as laborers to work in the production plant. To add to the already
issue of child labor, the working conditions and working hours which were imposed on these
workers were an extra element to add to the already existing unethical working conditions. This
can be explained by the moral theories. Additionally, pertaining to Immanuel Kant, a renowned
German philosopher with a non-consequentialist view of ethics, the moral value of an event can
be supported on the grounds of its inherent traits rather than the results. Furthermore, the
goodwill with which good activities are carried out, with reference to a feeling of responsibility
and moral argumentation, rather than just on the consequences or factual information, decides
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whether the action is right or incorrect (Kant, 1949). Kant's ethics likewise emphasizes the
universal acceptability of activities in order for them to be morally justified. Within the
formation of the theoretical implementation, Kant’s view suggests that humans as an end and not
a means of action. We should respect human rationale and their rights. Considering this view, the
adaption of children to work and the production facility is unethical to be with. 
To justify the behavior of how the workers are treated can be explained with the theory of
“Human rights.” It suggests that humans have the right to be treated equally with the respect
which they deserve. To add this the “Prima Facie Obligations” suggest that humans have the
right to education, medical care, and job opportunities. The is certain that in developing
economies, it is far more difficult to attain a fixed job that provides for yourself and the family.
Along with this being said, the children who have been hired to work at the production facility
are under the legal age of working as they are not well equipped with the knowledge and training
which is required to sufficiently be productive at the workplace (Freeman, 2004). 

Conclusion
To conclude this case of Kiddo Toys a world-renowned toy manufacturer brand whose
international subcontractors located in China and Cambodia were accused of unethical business
conduct. First of all the use of hazardous materials in the manufacturing of toy cars from the
Chinese subcontractors was accounted for health concerns being faced by the kids' parents who
had purchased them. Kiddo Toys should have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the quality
and standards of the products meet the general health and safety requirements since the product
is directed to be used by children and a certain degree of due care is necessary. Secondly, from
their Cambodian side, the use of children at their manufacturing facility along with the unethical
working conditions was highlighted by international journalists which really tarnished the brand
image and highlighted some major human rights issues. Regardless of the fact that developing
nations are in the need of economic upbringing and the need for a wage per person is high, it
doesn’t give Kiddo Toys subcontractors the right to implement child labor in their workplace as
its unethical and raises human rights concerns, which in the end lets the child an unaccomplished
life.

Reference List:
Drucker, P., 1981. What is business ethics. The public interest, 63(2), pp.18-36.

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Hasnas, J., 1998. The normative theories of business ethics: A guide for the perplexed. Business
Ethics Quarterly, 8(1), pp.19-42.
Murero, M. and Rice, R.E. eds., 2013. The Internet and health care: theory, research, and
practice. Routledge.
Graham, N.O. ed., 1995. Quality in health care: Theory, application, and evolution. Jones &
Bartlett Learning.
Kant, I., 1949. The philosophy of Kant: Immanuel Kant's moral and political writings.
Freeman, M., 2004. The problem of secularism in human rights theory. Hum. Rts. Q., 26, p.375.