Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the disparity between the high market prices of Labubu toys and the low wages of the workers involved in their production, exemplified by the story of Hu Meiyu, a worker who earns a meager income from her labor in the toy manufacturing process [8][11][24]. Group 1: Labubu Toy Market - Labubu toys, produced by Pop Mart, have gained immense popularity globally, with initial products fetching auction prices as high as 1.08 million yuan [8][11]. - The demand for Labubu has led to long queues at Pop Mart stores and even violent incidents among scalpers trying to acquire the toys [8][11]. - The secondary market for Labubu products has seen a significant price drop, with prices falling by approximately 50% during recent sales events [23]. Group 2: Worker Experience - Hu Meiyu, a 60-year-old worker, earns about 0.035 yuan per piece for trimming excess material from the Labubu toy faces, resulting in a daily income of around 50-60 yuan [10][11][24]. - The labor-intensive process involves multiple steps and workers, with Hu's role being just one of many in the production chain [16][19]. - Despite the low wages, Hu expresses pride in her work, noting that her output is often of higher quality than that of her peers [13]. Group 3: Production Process - The production of Labubu toys involves various stages, including molding, trimming, painting, and assembly, requiring the collaboration of numerous workers [15][19]. - In Dongguan, a major toy manufacturing hub, there are over 4,000 toy production companies, with many supplying to Pop Mart [16]. - The article describes the working conditions and pay disparities among different roles in the production process, highlighting the significant markup from production to retail [17][20].

Group 1 - The article highlights the life of a family worker, Hu Meiyu, who earns a daily wage of around 50 yuan by trimming excess plastic from Labubu doll faces, a popular product from Pop Mart [7][10][28] - Labubu dolls have gained immense popularity globally, with initial products fetching prices as high as 1.08 million yuan at auctions, leading to long queues at Pop Mart stores and even violent competition among scalpers [6][28] - The production process involves multiple steps and workers, with Hu Meiyu's role being just one of many in the supply chain, reflecting the low wages and labor-intensive nature of the work [15][20] Group 2 - The article discusses the broader context of the toy manufacturing industry in Dongguan, which is home to over 4,000 toy production companies, making it the largest toy export base in China [15][22] - The article mentions that the price for a single Labubu doll face in a factory setting is around 5 yuan, while the retail price can exceed 1000 yuan, indicating a significant markup in the supply chain [15][28] - The article also touches on the related market for doll clothing, which has seen a resurgence due to the popularity of Labubu, with wholesale prices for doll outfits ranging from 15 to 30 yuan [26][27]